Police in Kirinyaga have arrested a man accused of defiling and killing a 9-year-old grade three pupil before dumping her body at Rwamuthambi river in Kagio town, Kirinyaga County.
According to Ndia sub-county police commander Moses Koskei, John Kariuki surrendered to Mwiki police station before detectives transferred him to Kirinyaga County.
Koskei said the girl’s body was found dumped in Rwamuthambi river with visible signs of injury. A post-mortem examination conducted on the body showed the girl defiled and strangled.
The police boss said the girl went missing on May 12, 2023 and her body was found in the river on May 14, 2023.
“The girl was allegedly picked by the suspect, who was known to her, to buy her sweets. The incident was reported by her mother Caroline Wanjiru at Kagio police station,” Koskei said.
Reuben Kihara, who found the girl’s body, said it was blocked by a water pipe in the river.
The girl, who was a grade 3 pupil at Kagio Catholic school was buried on May 25, with her mother crying for justice.
The suspect is now being held at Baricho police station.
