Angry residents of Mahigaini and Ngucue villages in Mwea-East Sub-County, Kirinyaga, took matters into their own hands on Tuesday, storming the homes of two men accused of murdering 16-year-old Purity Makena.
The girl’s body was discovered near Thiba River in Mwea-West Sub-County on Christmas Eve, sparking outrage across the region.
The villagers, irate over the brutal murder, dumped Purity’s body at the doorstep of one of the suspects’ homes, accusing them of the crime.
As police officers from Wang’uru Police Station and Assistant Chief George Mungai attempted to intervene, chaos erupted.
For over an hour, villagers marched through the area, venting their anger and frustration over the death of the teenager.
Despite the police using tear gas to disperse the crowd, the destruction of the suspects’ property continued unabated.
According to Purity’s father, John Muriuki, the killers left a chilling clue—Purity’s sister’s phone number was written on the deceased’s hand.
“Detectives contacted us after Purity’s sister received a call, and we learned the suspects had written her number on the girl’s hand,” Muriuki explained.
The villagers’ anger was further fueled by allegations of LGBTQ involvement in the case.
Local residents accused one of the suspects of practicing homosexuality in the area, blaming him for other deaths in the community. “We want them out of this village,” said local resident Paul Migwi. “He has been practicing LGBTQ, and several people have died because of it.”
Purity’s aunt, Susan Muthoni, claimed that the girl was involved with one of the suspects, who, until recently, was unaware of the man’s sexual orientation.
“I called the boy over an incident, and both he and his boss admitted to the relationship. We suspect this is why they killed her after she caught them,” Muthoni said.
Assistant Chief George Maina confirmed that, despite the chaos, the suspects’ families managed to leave the village without injury, although their property was destroyed.
“The family relocated to Rogoi village in Murinduko Ward, but they were attacked along the way in Ngucue village, where some of their belongings were set on fire,” Maina reported.
Purity Makena was laid to rest in Ngucue village later that afternoon. Church leaders who attended the funeral urged parents to protect their children and take a stand against LGBTQ activities in the villages.
“Makena came from humble beginnings, living with her grandmother, and it is believed the man took advantage of her,” said Paul Maina, a church leader from Kimbimbi Parish.
Mwea-West Sub-County Police Commander Rashid Ali confirmed the arrest of the two suspects, stating that they were from Mwea-East Sub-County but had dumped Purity’s body in Mwea-West.
“The suspects have been apprehended, and investigations are ongoing,” he said.
