Police in Tharaka West, Tharaka Nithi County, launched investigations into the murder of an 81-year-old woman who was found dead at her homestead with severe head injuries.
The incident was reported on Monday after the body of Julia James Kiraku was discovered lying in a pool of blood in front of a chicken coop at her home in Matakiri Village.
Police officers from Nkondi Police Station, led by the Officer Commanding Station (OCS), accompanied by crime scene investigators from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Tharaka South, visited and processed the scene.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the deceased was attacked at an unknown time by an unidentified assailant. Detectives observed a deep cut wound to her head, believed to have been inflicted with a sharp object, which is suspected to have caused her death.
The scene was documented and processed before the body was removed to Marimanti Level IV Hospital mortuary, where it is awaiting a post-mortem examination.
Police have launched investigations to establish the motive behind the killing and identify the person or persons responsible. No arrests had been made by the time of filing this report.
And police in Awendo, Migori County, launched investigations into a suspected rape and murder after a 40-year-old woman died shortly after she was found critically injured outside a residential compound.
The victim, identified as Rose Atieno, was discovered by police officers on routine patrol on Monday at Kokuro Village in North Kombok Sublocation, Central Sakwa Location.
According to police, she was lying on her back outside the perimeter wall of the residence of Prof. Paul Oyia, unconscious and struggling to breathe. She had sustained a visible injury to her forehead, while her underwear had been pulled down to her knees. Her sandals were found lying beside her.
Officers rushed her to Rapcom Hospital in Awendo, where she was admitted in critical condition. However, she succumbed to her injuries while undergoing treatment.
Crime scene investigators later processed the scene and noted signs of a struggle. Two empty packets of “Sure” condoms were recovered, adding to suspicions that the woman may have been sexually assaulted before the fatal attack.
Preliminary investigations established that the deceased had attended a house-warming ceremony at a home of a man who is based in the United States, before the incident.
The body was preserved at Rapcom Hospital mortuary pending a post-mortem examination to establish the exact cause of death and determine whether she was sexually assaulted.
Police said investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend those responsible. No arrests had been made by the time of filing this report.
