The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has nabbed two men linked to the gruesome murder of a seventy-two-year-old woman in Kirinyaga County.
In a statement on the DCI official X account on Monday, December 15, 2025, detectives revealed that the Kirinyaga East detectives traced down the two persons of interest.
According to the DCI, the 72-year-old identified as Margaret Wandauma Maina went missing before her lifeless body was discovered on December 14, 2025, in a secluded thicket in Kegua village, Kerugoya East Sub-County.
“Kirinyaga East detectives have apprehended two prime suspects linked to the brutal murder of 72-year-old Margaret Wandauma Maina. Wandauma’s lifeless body was discovered on December 14, 2025, in a secluded thicket in Kegua village, Kerugoya East Sub-County,” DCI said.
The detectives explained that the search began when a member of the public reported seeing an unidentified female body.
Swiftly thereafter, the law enforcement officers arrived at the scene to find the deceased half-naked, with visible injuries to her forehead.
“The discovery was made following a tip-off from a concerned member of the public who reported seeing an unidentified female body. Responding swiftly, law enforcement officers arrived at the scene to find the deceased half-naked, with visible injuries to her forehead,” DCI stated.
The Manhunt
Detectives have further revealed that among the items recovered at the scene were her duplicate ID card, an Equity Bank ATM card, and an Itel mobile phone.
Meanwhile, the body was later moved to Kibugi Funeral Home for preservation and autopsy.
“Among the items recovered at the scene were her duplicate ID card, an Equity Bank ATM card, and an Itel mobile phone. The body was removed to Kibugi Funeral Home for preservation and autopsy,” DCI noted.
The officers further explained that preliminary investigations revealed that Wandauma was last seen at Muthigiini Shopping Centre on December 13, 2025, at the Rome bar, where she left around 5:40 PM, never to be seen again.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that Wandauma was last seen at Muthigiini Shopping Centre on December 13, 2025, at the Rome bar, where she left around 5:40 PM, never to be seen again,” DCI said.
Following a manhunt search launched by the DCI, forensic leads led the investigators to the two men.
“A manhunt was swiftly launched for the suspects, and thanks to forensic leads, investigators arrested 42-year-old James Njiru Murimi and his accomplice, 35-year-old Peter Mbogo Wanjerinam,” DCI stated.
According to the detectives, the suspects are currently in police custody, undergoing processing as they await arraignment.
