Woman murdered, body dumped in thicket in Kwale

Detectives are investigating the murder of an elderly woman whose body was found dumped in a thicket in the Kombani area, Kwale County.

Police said they were informed on Wednesday that the deceased Mejumaa Chibaya, 78, had gone missing from her house, prompting her relatives to start looking for her.

They later stumbled on her body in a thicket in the area on Wednesday, June 25.

The body had visible injuries in the left eye, bruises on the neck and blood was oozing from her ears.

The body was moved to the mortuary pending autopsy and investigations.

Such murder cases of the elderly are rampant in the region amid campaigns to address the same.

Elsewhere in Nyamusi, Nyamira County, a 62-year-old woman was brutally murdered in her house over what police believe is a land dispute.

The deceased, identified as Truphena Makana, had bought land and settled in the village oblivious of what was waiting for her.

She had been missing from her usual market area, prompting her trading partners to go check on her.

They said they found the gate locked from outside and broke into the compound and house where her body was found lying in a kitchen with deep cuts in the head, throat and the left hand chopped off.

The police visited the scene and helped to move the body to the mortuary.

Police said they are looking for the perpetrators behind the incident.

Elsewhere, three murder incidents were reported separately in Meru County.

The first incident happened in Kariene village, where one Jane Kanyiri, 42, was hacked to death by assailants who had raided her home.

Her body had deep cuts on the face and abdomen.

Her daughter, who rushed to her help, was attacked and seriously wounded in the head. She was admitted to the hospital with serious wounds.

The motive of the attack is yet to be known.

In the Igembe area, Joyce Mongeli, 58, was found dead in her house after a suspected murder.

The body was found in a pool of blood with deep cuts on the leg.

A panga that was used in the murder was found at the scene, police said.

An assailant who was hiding in the ceiling board managed to escape the scene, police said, adding a hunt for him is ongoing.

The motive of the murder was not immediately established.

In the Mutuati area, a 17-year-old boy was found murdered and his body dumped on the roadside.

Police said there was blood oozing from his mouth and nose at the time the body was found.

The motive of the murder and the identity of the assailants are yet to be established.

The bodies of the victims were moved to the mortuaries pending autopsies and investigations.