KENYA: Caroline Wanjiku Maina, a 38-year-old woman who was kidnapped by unknown persons one week ago, has been found dead.
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) who were investigating the abduction discovered the body at Kajiado Hospital mortuary.
According to a February 13 report at Muthangari Police Station, the deceased’s vehicle—a Toyota Axio– had been found abandoned in Kawangware near Gatina Primary School a day after she went missing.
The case was then taken over by DCI Nairobi Area Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau (CRIB) working alongside Dagoretti-based detective.
Four suspects were arrested: Edwin Otieno Odiwuor, Samwel Okoth Adinda, Stevenson Oduor Ouma and Mercy Gitiri Mongo.
Further investigations established that prior to the kidnapping, Ms. Maina had withdrawn Ksh. 350,000 from her account at a Cooperative Bank branch in Nairobi, before meeting the first suspect (Edwin) at Ngara for a business deal.
She had also made a call to one of her friends detailing her meeting with Edwin, who was to guide her into boosting her Stima Sacco shares with the withdrawn amount.
“Once at Ngara, Wanjiku had been forced into a waiting black KCN 300D Toyota Crown in which Edwin was waiting, before being handcuffed and sandwiched by the other named suspects,” the DCI said.
Acting on forensic intelligence, the investigating team escorted two of the suspects, (Edwin and Samwel) to Paranai area in Kajiado.
It was established as the crime scene where the suspects dumbed Ms. Maina after torturing her to death.
“A pair of handcuffs used to restrain the deceased, her company stamp stolen from her car and a surgical face mask believed to have been worn by her were recovered,” said the DCI.
The officers then proceeded to Kajiado Hospital mortuary where the sister identified Wanjiku’s body which was reported to have been collected at the crime scene on February 15.
The body had physical injuries on both wrists and its entirety, with the eyes plucked out of their sockets.
Another Mercedes-Benz Reg. No. KCW 179G, believed to have been used while dumping Wanjiku’s body has since been recovered at the first suspect’s home.
With further investigations ongoing, the four suspects are pending arraignment for murder.
