Police in Nyeri County launched investigations into the suspected murder of a 22-year-old herdsman whose body was recovered from a flooded abandoned quarry after he went missing for two days.
The deceased, identified as Julius Irungu Kamau, was employed as a herdsman at the Roben Aberdare Construction Site in Karichen, Kieni East Sub-County.
According to police, the disappearance was reported on Tuesday evening by an employee at the construction site, who said Julius had been missing since Monday under unclear circumstances.
Police visited the scene and established that Julius had left his house without explanation. The door had been pulled shut, with the padlock and keys left hanging outside, while his mobile phone remained inside the house.
A joint search involving police officers, the area assistant chief, fellow employees and members of the public was immediately launched.
During the initial search, a pair of sandals positively identified as belonging to the missing man was found floating in an abandoned water-filled quarry within the construction site, raising fears that he had drowned. However, the search was suspended due to darkness and safety concerns.
The operation resumed on Wednesday with officers from the National Police Service in Kieni East Sub-county, the Nyeri County Rescue Team, Nyeri County Fire Brigade, construction site employees and local residents.
The search team recovered Julius’ body floating in the quarry.
Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) officers processed and documented the scene. Although the body had no visible external injuries, police said preliminary findings pointed to possible foul play, prompting investigators to treat the incident as a suspected murder.
The body was moved to Narumoru Level IV Hospital Mortuary, where a post-mortem examination will be conducted to establish the exact cause of death.
Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident are ongoing.
And police in Murang’a County have launched investigations after a 52-year-old man was found dead along a footpath in Gatanga Sub-County on Wednesday morning.
The deceased, identified as Simon Mwaura Ndonye, was discovered lying motionless along a path in Kaweru Village, Mabanda Sub-location, at around 7:30 a.m.
Preliminary examination revealed that the body had no visible external injuries, and the cause of death has not yet been established.
The body was moved to Kirwara Funeral Home, where it is awaiting a post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death.
Police said an inquest file will be opened as investigations continue.
