Kirinyaga: Man arrested for allegedly killing 60-year-old employer, dumping body in well

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Kirinyaga: Man arrested for allegedly killing 60-year-old employer, dumping body in well

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The man suspected of murdering his 60-year-old employer and

dumping her body in a well at Kamugunda village in Gichugu, Kirinyaga County,

has been arrested.

According to Mwea East Sub-County Police Commander Stephen

Okal, the suspect is being held briefly at Wang'uru Police Station before being

transferred to Kianyaga Police Station where he committed the offence. He will

be taken to court on Monday.

Okal said the man, who has been hunted by detectives and

identified as Victor Kheyali (28), was flushed out from Kiarukungu village in

Tebere ward where he had been hiding.

Police officers from Wang'uru Police Station were forced to

close the gate after boda boda riders stormed the station demanding his release

to lynch him.

"Boda boda riders had stormed the police station

demanding his release to lynch him but we told them nobody is allowed to take

the law into his own hands. I will hand him over to the Kirinyaga East police

boss," Okal said.

The suspect, a man from Western Kenya who had been employed by

the family to help in the homestead, had been on the run since Wednesday when

60-year-old Lydia Wathitha Njoka was found murdered.

Wathitha's body, wrapped in a blanket, was retrieved by

residents on Wednesday morning after her husband, James Njoka Gitari, arrived

home Tuesday night at around 9pm, hooted, but received no response. The

couple lives alone as their children are grown up.

Gitari entered the house and found blood stains, prompting him

to alert relatives and neighbours. They followed the trail to an unused well

where Wathitha's body had been dumped.

According to the deceased's brother, Peter Gacibiri, the

family was called by Gitari, informing them that their sister had been killed

and dumped in a well.

"It is very sad my sister has been killed by a man she

had employed from Western Kenya. She had serious injuries and there was blood

even in the house. We want justice," Gacibiri said.

Area MCA for Karumandi Ward, Caroline Muriithi, said the

worker had stolen items and agreed to repay, but instead killed his employer

when her husband was away.

"Instead of paying the debt, he killed her,"

Muriithi remarked.

Relatives added that the worker's identification documents had

been left with the employer as security for the stolen chicken and household

items.

Reporting originally appeared via Citizen Digital. Read the full source for additional context.