Families from Kigumo in Murang’a whose kin went missing in December 2024 will have to wait much longer to know their whereabouts.
On Wednesday, December 10th, 2025, the families pitched camp at Keni village in Mariira as youths dug purported graves where three people had reportedly been buried.
Police officers who have been pursuing the mysterious disappearance are said to have arrested a suspect who was trying to withdraw money from the bank account belonging to one of the missing persons.
The suspect led the police to a spot where he claims three people are buried, but the grave was found to be empty.
The three included John Gitau, a 75-year-old village tycoon; David Karanja, a retired military officer; and John Njihia, 55, a local businessman.
They are among the five people from the same locality who went missing without a trace, causing agony to their families.
Leah Wanjiru, Gitau’s daughter, said after getting a report that there are bodies buried in the area, they were hoping the search for their father would come to an end.
“We looked everywhere for him, including the hospitals and morgues, to no avail, but we have been hoping one day we will get some information on his whereabouts,” she said.
“We were hoping to find his body here so that we can give him a decent burial, but nothing was found in the grave,” Wanjiru said.
The family, however, says their father had just bought a parcel of land days before he went missing, and they suspect those involved in the deal could have a hand in his disappearance.
“We strongly believe one of the partners involved in the deal knows what transpired, but all we want is to see our father dead or alive,” she added.
Area chief Beth Macharia, who oversaw the exercise, said the search was called off after four graves were dug, but they were empty.
Macharia said the search for the missing persons will continue as investigating officers delve deeper into the matter and unravel the mystery.
“We will wait for more information from the investigator, hopefully to get leads on the whereabouts of these people,” Macharia said.
The residents, however, accused the security agents of laxity, saying by now they ought to have established what happened to the missing people.
