Body of missing man found in Murang’a river
FILE IMAGE OF A POLICE LINE
Police in Murang’a County have launched investigations after the decomposed, headless body of a man who had been missing for more than two weeks was recovered near Irigiro River in Kigumo Sub-County.
The body was identified as that of James Wanjau Gichohi, 34, from Gitaimbuka Village in Githumu.
According to police, members of the public who had gone to collect firewood near Irigiro River on Monday evening alerted authorities after noticing a foul smell emanating from the area.
On moving closer, they discovered a badly decomposed body of an adult male with the head missing.
Police officers from Kigumo Police Station, accompanied by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), responded to the scene and, with the assistance of members of the public, retrieved the body.
The deceased was later identified by his cousin, who confirmed that James had been reported missing since June 25, 2026.
Crime scene investigators processed and documented the scene before the remains were transferred to the AIC Githumu Mission Funeral Home, where they will await a post-mortem examination.
Police have classified the case as a suspected murder and have launched investigations to establish the circumstances surrounding the killing, recover the missing head, and identify those responsible.
And police in Murang’a County have arrested a 55-year-old man after his wife was found hanging inside their house in what investigators suspect was a murder disguised as suicide.
The deceased was identified as Edith Wangechi Wamboi, 27.
According to police, officers from Nyakianga Police Station and detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Kiriaini responded to reports of a suspected suicide at Kiriti village in the Gatunguru area of Mathioya Sub-County.
Upon arrival, officers found Wamboi’s body hanging from a rope tied around her neck inside the house.
Preliminary investigations led police to suspect that the woman had been killed before her body was suspended in an attempt to make the death appear to be suicide.
Police identified the woman’s husband, John Gichuki Ndungu, 55, as the prime suspect. Investigators allege he tied the rope around the deceased’s neck after killing her in an attempt to conceal evidence.
Before police arrived, the suspect was reportedly assaulted by angry residents who suspected him of involvement in the woman’s death.
He was rescued by officers, arrested and taken to Kangema Sub-County Hospital for treatment before being placed in police custody pending arraignment.
Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) officers processed and documented the scene before the body was moved to Kangema Hospital mortuary for a post-mortem examination.
Police said investigations into the suspected murder are ongoing. The suspect remains presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.