The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has arrested three men following the brutal murder of a woman whose mutilated body was discovered in Kirinyaga County last month.
According to a statement released on Tuesday, December 2, detectives in Kirinyaga East apprehended the suspects in connection with the killing of Jackline Waruguru Kathuri, whose remains were found on November 22, 2025, in Ninga-ini village, Kirinyaga East Sub-County.
The grim discovery was made after police at Kiamutugu Police Station received a distress call alerting them to a lifeless body in the area. Officers who responded to the scene found the victim with severe burn wounds, a missing right upper arm and breast, as well as visible head injuries.
The body was subsequently transported to Kerugoya County Referral Hospital for preservation and post-mortem examination.
Determined to bring the perpetrators to justice, investigators launched an immediate manhunt. Using forensic evidence, they tracked down and arrested the primary suspect, Collins Muchira Ngege.
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During interrogation, Ngege led officers to his accomplices, John Brian Kimotho Kamau and Stephen Muchiri Karani, who were subsequently taken into custody.
Initial investigations reveal that the deceased left her home on November 16, 2025, and never returned. According to preliminary findings, she was gang-raped, subjected to a vicious assault, and dragged to a nearby thicket where she was abandoned and left to die.
The three suspects are currently in police custody, undergoing processing as they await arraignment in court.
The arrest comes amid growing public concern over gender-based violence in the country.
Barely a day ago, authorities in Meru County launched investigations into a separate gang-rape incident involving over ten men who attacked a woman during a traditional circumcision procession in Laare Town on December 1, 2025.
In that case, approximately 100 men were participating in the cultural ceremony when a few from the group assaulted the victim, filmed the attack, and circulated the footage on social media, sparking widespread outrage online.
Police in Meru have arrested three suspects connected to that incident, with operations underway to apprehend the remaining accomplices.
The victim was hospitalized in a traumatized condition, and authorities have deployed specialized teams to track down all individuals involved.
