Category Archives: Kenya

Kenya: suspects in Tharaka Nithi ritual murder remanded 7 days

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I reported earlier on this gruesome murder case. See my January 20 posting ‘A shocking ritual murder in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya‘. (Warning: people may find its contents shocking due to the graphic details of this heinous crime).
(webmaster FVDK)

Suspects in Tharaka Nithi ritual sacrifice remanded 7 days

Suleiman Mati Mukira and Michael Ngugi Riungu before a Chuka court on January 19, 2021 on the accusation of killing a nine-year-old girl in Magutuni, Tharaka Nithi County, as part of a ritual.
Pholo: Alex Njeru – Nation Media Group

Published: January 19, 2021
By: Nation, Kenya – Alex Njeru 

What you need to know:

  • The accused are 94-year-old Suleiman Mati Mukira from the village in Mwimbi, whom police say is a witchdoctor, and his client Michael Ngugi Riungu, 32.

Police in Tharaka Nithi County have seven days to conclude investigations into the gruesome murder of a nine-year-old girl from Mpingu village in Maara Sub-county.

The accused are 94-year-old Suleiman Mati Mukira from the village in Mwimbi, whom police say is a witchdoctor, and his client Michael Ngugi Riungu, 32, from Kariakomo village in neighboring Ganga Ward.

In their application, police said they needed enough time to thoroughly probe the shocking incident believed to have been a ritual killing.

They further argued that the two should remain in police custody because their security is not guaranteed.

Before Senior Resident Magistrate Mwanamkuu Sudi, the investigating team also said the first suspect, Mr Riungu, is a flight risk.

“Police are seeking seven days to conclude the investigation before preferring charges,” said the prosecution.

In their affidavit, police also told the court that Mr Riungu, who had visited Mr Mukira for his services, beheaded the Grade Two child of his neighbour.

Asked whether he was against the police request for him to remain in custody for the seven days, Mr Riungu did not object.

Mr Mukira requested to be released on bond arguing that he is old and sickly and that since the incident happened, he has been suffering from depression. He also cited a urinary tract infection.

The court remanded the two, nothing the need for them to undergo mental checks before standing trial.

Source: Suspects in Tharaka Nithi ritual sacrifice remanded 7 days

Related:

‘Witchdoctor’, ‘client’ detained for alleged ritual killing of nine-year old girl

Police called suspects a flight risk, saying the public was angry and they should not be released for their own safety

Published: January 19, 2021
By: The Star, Kenya – Gerald Mutethia

In Summary 

• Court orders suspected witchdoctor and client detained for seven days for investigation and psychiatric assessment in connection with an apparent ritual beheading.

• When police arrived on Sunday afternoon, they said they found two men – a ‘traditional healer’ and his ‘client’ – eating meat. It was not clear if it was human flesh, a beheaded sacrificial goat or a chicken whose heart had been ripped out.

An elderly man and his ‘client’ accused of beheading a nine-year-old girl will be detained for seven days on suspicion of witchcraft ritual murder.

The killer or killers ripped out the heart of the victim, Deborah Kagendi Kinengeni, who regularly delivered milk. She was  brilliant, cheerful and talkative, a Chuka High Court was told on Tuesday.

The girl’s father, Ignasius Mutunga, who spoke at their home said his daughter was attending church when she was summoned to his home by the elderly traditional healer. She went willingly because she often delivered milk to him.

The girl’s brother, Evans Mawira, said he had asked the old man where his sister was. He said the old man told him to take his cows in exchange for her, the court heard.

Police in Tharaka Nithi county were allowed by a Chuka High Court on Tuesday to detain Suleiman Mati Mukira of Mpingu village in Mwimbi whom the police described as a “witchdoctor”.

Also ordered detained was his accused ‘client’, Michael Ngugi Riungu, 32, from Kariakomo village in neighbouring Ganga ward.

In an affidavit, police told the court Riungu had visited Mukira for “spiritual treatment” and beheaded the Grade 2 neighbour girl.

When police arrived on Sunday afternoon, they said they found two men – a ‘traditional healer’ and his ‘client’ – eating meat. It was not clear if it was human flesh, a beheaded sacrificial goat or a chicken whose heart had been ripped out.

The detention is to allow for investigations. The two men have not been charged in connection with the Sunday afternoon murder and suspected witchcraft.

They will undergo a psychiatric assessment before being charged and entering a plea.

It is against the law to practice witchcraft and sentences can be as long as 10  years. Murder carries a life sentence.

Police told senior resident magistrate Mwanamkuu Sudi, the investigating team considers Riungu a flight risk. They said both men’s lives were in danger from an enraged public if they are released.

Congregants at the nearby Ambassador for Christ Fellowship heard the girl’s screams, called police and rushed to the scene.

The body was found hidden in a gunny in a goat shed. The head was found in the compound.

Source: ‘Witchdoctor’, ‘client’ detained for alleged ritual killing

Kenya: A cry for justice: Brayden Mutwiri murder linked to ritual killing

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The four-year old toddler whose body had been found in the Thuci river ten days ago has been laid to rest. The bereaved parents can only hope that there is justice, but they depend on action of the authorities. It is not the first murder case in the area. Three months ago a little girl was also found dead in a nearby water. What happens in Kenya these days?
(webmaster FVDK)

A cry for justice: murdered boy buried in Embu County;
Brayden Mutwiri murder linked to ritual killing

Published: January 23, 2021
By: KTN news, from The Standard – video

A somber mood engulfed the burial ceremony of Brayden Mutwiri, a four year old boy whose body was found decomposing at river Thuci last week in Embu County. The boy whose death is suspected to have been linked to a ritual killing was today laid to rest in Kanyuambora, Mbeere North Sub-County, Embu County.

Screenshot. To watch the video, click here

Source: Source: A cry for justice: Murdered boy buried in embu; Brayden Mutwiri murder linked to ritual killing

Embu County, Kenya

Mob justice in Kenya: angry residents burn down houses belonging to wealthy suspect

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It’s not the first time that Kenyans take the law into their own hands – and it won’t be the last time either. Of course, this is wrong. The rue of the law must apply. People who are suspected of committing a crime should be apprehended, put on trial, and an impartial judge should find them guilty or not-guilty. However, the anger of local residents sometimes unlashes forces which result in mob justice. It happened in Kavengero village, in Embu County, after the mutilated, dead body of a four-year old toddler had been found in a nearby river.

An autopsy must confirm whether this was a case of ritual murder. Meanwhile the local population has no doubts. Their anger was fed by the fact that three months ago, a little girl was also found dead and floating in the water. 

The obligation of the state is to protect its citizens and to arrest, try and sentence people who break the law (webmaster FVDK).

Residents of Kavengero village in Embu County at the scene near Thuci River
where the body of a four-year-old-boy was found on January 13, 2021.
Photo: George Munene

Angry Residents Burn Down 4 Houses Belonging to Trader

Published: January 14, 2021
By: Kenyans.co.ke – Michael Musyoka 

Angry residents on Wednesday, January 13, descended on the homestead of a trader in Embu burning down four houses, whom they believed was behind the kidnapping and eventual murder of boy in the area.

Confirming the incident, Mbeere North Sub-County Police Commander Kilonzo Kivinda stated that the residents went on a rampage after police discovered the body of a four-year-old boy dumped in the Thuci river.

“The mob became violent and destroyed property owned by the trader over the death of the boy but we are investigating the matter,” he stated.

According to the security official, the residents raided the man’s shop setting it ablaze using petrol before heading to his homestead where they burnt down all the buildings there.

The mob also uprooted his Muguka crop in their outrage.

The police commander warned the residents against taking the law into their own hands adding that they had arrested the trader for questioning.

We have picked up the trader and he is assisting us with investigations,” he stated.

The body of the boy who had gone missing in December 2020, was discovered by criminal investigation officers in between rocks in the river with the tongue missing.

The body was taken to Siakago Hospital mortuary for a post-mortem.

Area chief Charles Njeru noted that the residents launched a search for the boy when he had gone missing.

He added that the boy was the second child from the area to be retrieved from the river.

“Three months ago, a little girl was also found dead and floating in the water,” he added.

Source: Angry Residents Burn Down 4 Houses Belonging to Trader

Embu County, Kenya

Kenya: Ritual killing? Embu pupil says he slaughtered cousin, drank blood

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Recently, there has been an upsurge in ritualistic murders or allegations of ritual killings in the country. See my previous postings (January 2021, December 2020, November 2020) on suspected and reported cases – although we always have to bear in mind that very likely the number of suspected and discovered ritual murders are only the tip of the iceberg.  

The reason for this apparent increase in the number of ritual murders is not known.

The case reported below has all the characteristics of a ritual murder. However, since the body found had decomposed beyond recognition after remaining in water for weeks, an autopsy will be needed the determine the cause of the victim’s death.

It was reported that three months ago another child had been found dead in the river. 
(webmaster FVDK).

Ritual killing? Embu pupil says he slaughtered cousin, drank blood

Image: The Star

Published: January 15, 2021
By: The Star, Kenya – Reuben Githinji 

In Summary 

• Mutwiri went missing in late December from his home in Kavengero, Mbeere North.

• The suspect and his accomplices lured him as he played at home and took him to the river. 

A Embu boy, 16, led police in the search and recovery of the body of his four-year-old cousin he allegedly murdered and drank his blood in a suspected ritual sacrifice.  

The Standard 8 pupil on Wednesday led detectives to River Thuci where they recovered the body of Brayden Mutwiri. It had decomposed beyond recognition after remaining in water for weeks. Mutwiri went missing in late December from his home in Kavengero, Mbeere North.

The suspect and one of his accomplices were arrested on Monday and held at Siakago police station. He directed the police to the river where the body was found stuck between two rocks.

Speaking to the press at the scene, their uncle Nephat Nyaga said the suspect narrated how he and his accomplices murdered the boy, drank his blood, then threw his body into the river.

The suspect and his accomplices lured the boy as he played at home and took him to the river. 

Area chief Charles Njeru told the press that the boy mysteriously disappeared from home in late December and residents had been searching for him since.

Njeru said the bereaved family will have to wait for the postmortem result to ascertain that the body is Mutwiri’s.

The local administrator said this was the second incident of a missing child being found dead in the river. The first was a girl who went missing and her body retrieved from the river three months ago.

Njeru cautioned residents against settling their family grudges by attacking and killing children, urging them instead to follow the legal procedures of resolving disputes.

Residents condemned the killing and called for quick investigations so the killers are brought to book.

Purity Muringo said parents from the area now live in fear for the security of their schoolchildren. She said lives are at stake. Muringo called for thorough investigations to unravel the mysterious killings of innocent children.

Source: Ritual killing? Embu pupil says he slaughtered cousin, drank blood

Related articles:

Police retrieve body of four-year old who went missing

The body of Brayden Mutwiri was retrieved from River Thuci in Embu County. [Standard]

Published: January 14, 2021
By: The Standard, Kenya – Murithi Mugo  

The body of a four-year-old boy from Kavengero in Mbeere North Sub-County, Embu who went missing three weeks ago was yesterday found and retrieved from Thuci River.

The body of Brayden Mutwiri was retrieved after a long search since late December when he went missing.

Nephat Nyaga, uncle to the deceased said a 16-year-old boy is the main suspect.

Nyaga said the boy narrated how, with other accomplices from the area lured the deceased while playing at home and took him to the river where they killed him before dumping his body.

According to Nyaga, the suspects used the boy to commit the crime with a promise of monetary reward.

Source: Police retrieve body of four-year old who went missing

A shocking ritual murder in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya

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Warning: the graphic contents of the following articles may shock readers.
(webmaster FVDK).

Girl’s severed head found in ‘witch doctor’s’ house

Published: January 19, 2021
By: The Star, Kenya – By Cyrus Ombati and Gerald Mutehia   

In Summary 

•Residents at a church at Magutuni said they heard screams from the girl, so they rushed to the scene, a so-called ‘witch doctor’s’ house.

• She had been slaughtered, and so had a goat. The men were feasting on meat – whose?

A headless goat’s carcass found at the home of the alleged witchdoctor at Mpingu village

Police are holding a suspected witch doctor and his client after a nine-year-old girl was beheaded and her heart cut out in a ritual murder in Tharaka Nithi.

When police arrived on Sunday afternoon, they said they found two men – a ‘traditional healer’ and his client – eating meat. It was not clear if it was human flesh, a beheaded sacrificial goat or a chicken whose hearts had been ripped out.

The girl was a milkmaid who regularly delivered milk and was seeking payment.

Congregants from a nearby church said they had reprimanded Suleiman Mati Mukira 94, from Mpingu village, Kiroo sub-location and his client. The police report also named Mukira.

Congregants heard the girls’ screams, raised the alarm and rushed to the scene.

The body in a gunny bag and the severed head were recovered from the witch doctor’s home on Sunday afternoon.

Police said they demanded to be shown the girl who screamed and was shown a girl’s headless torso.

The homeowner told police his client had slaughtered the girl as a sacrifice.

Police identified the girl as Deborah Kagendi Kinengeni who had delivered milk to the homestead. 

The men turned violent when police were called to the scene and conducted a search leading to more discoveries.

The body of the child was found hidden in a goat shed. The head was found nearby.

Police said they also found slaughtered chickens whose hearts had been ripped out. 

Eastern head of DCI Jeremiah Ikiao said they are trying to establish if the murder was isolated or part of serial ritual murders.

“It looks like a ritual but we will know more as investigators work on the incident,” he said. The remains of the girl were moved to the mortuary.

Police plan to produce the two in court and seek time to hold them while they conduct investigations.

“OCS Magutuni, DCI officers and SCPC Maara rushed to the scene and found the child having been killed. Her body was concealed in a goat shed, her head was cut off and placed outside the goat shed.

“Outside the compound was a slaughtered goat. Inside Mukira’s house was a slaughtered chicken and witchcraft items,” a police report seen by the Star reads.

Preliminary observation has shown that the girl’s heart was missing, police said. Witchcraft paraphernalia were found nearby. Police collected two blood-stained pangas.

Police at Ntumu station are holding the suspects as they investigate.

The body was taken to Chuka Hospital morgue for a postmortem.

(Edited by V. Graham)

Source: Girl’s severed head found in ‘witch doctor’s’ house

Related articles:

Kenya: Murdered Tharaka Nithi Girl Victim of Ritual Sacrifice

Published: January 19, 2021
By: Nation Media Group, Kenya – Alex Njeru

A key suspect in Sunday’s bizarre murder of a nine-year-old girl from Mpingu village in Maara Sub-county, Tharaka Nithi County, has claimed that he was offering a sacrifice to a witchdoctor.

In a shocking revelation to the parents of the murdered girl at Chogoria Police Station where the 32-year-old man is in custody, he said he had been directed to sacrifice a girl, goat and a chicken and surrender the hearts so that he could be protected from his relatives “who were planning to kill him”.

The suspect is being held together with the alleged 94-year-old witchdoctor. The suspect from Kariakomo village in Ganda ward, and who is a frequent visitor of the old man according to villagers, confessed that he killed a white chicken, a goat and the girl; whom the old man called from a nearby church.

Addressing the media, Maara Sub-county Police Commander Mohammed Jarso said the hearts of the slaughtered goat and chicken were missing but that of the girl was intact.

“The girl was beheaded but no part of the body was missing,” said Mr Jarso.

Police said the suspected witchdoctor claimed that his client turned violent and killed the goat and chicken before turning on the girl, who was picking some passion fruits at his farm.

Pick a bottle

He claimed that he had called the girl to pick a bottle that she had used to deliver some milk to him in the morning.

Mr Jarso said the matter is still under investigation, but added that the key suspect could be suffering from mental illness.

According to police, the old man reported the murder.

The villagers, among them worshippers at the Full Gospel Church led by Ms Josephine Mpuria, however claim that he rushed to the police after sensing danger from the residents who were threatening to lynch the two.

Ms Mpuria said the old man has been suspected of practicing witchcraft for a long time, but most of his customers come from far-off places.

‘Witch-doctor’

“Everybody in the village knows the old man as a witch-doctor and it has never been a secret,” said Ms Mpuria. She added that they suspect the old man has been demanding human sacrifices from his clients, and asked the police to conduct thorough investigations including searching his houses and farm.

Mr Evans Mawira, the girl’s brother, said that, when asked what had happened, the old man told him that he was ready to give him his only dairy cow in exchange for the girl.

“When I pushed the old man from where he was sitting down, I discovered the head of my sister and screamed in shock,” said Mawira.

Mr Ignatius Mutunga, the girl’s father, who received news of the heinous act while in Nairobi where he works, pleaded for justice to be done noting that the old man should not try to exonerate himself from the crime.

He said that, although he had been hearing that the old man is a witchdoctor, he has been selling milk to him and his children delivered it when they were not in school.

“I have lost my loving daughter and I am pleading for justice,” said Mr Mutunga.

The incident has left the villagers in shocked.

The two are expected to be arraigned in Chuka today (Tuesday).

Source: Kenya: Murdered Tharaka Nithi Girl Victim of Ritual Sacrifice

and:

Tharaka Nithi girl’s head severed in suspected ritual killing

The scene in Maara Sub-county, Tharaka Nithi County, where a girl was found dead on January 17, 2021, in a suspected case of a ritual killing.

Published: January 19, 2021
By: Nation Media Group, Kenya – Alex Njeru  

A suspected witchdoctor and his client were Sunday arrested in Maara Sub-county, Tharaka Nithi County, for allegedly killing a nine-year-old girl for a ritual.

In the incident at Magutuni, people worshipping at the nearby Full Gospel Church said they heard a girl’s cries but initially didn’t pay much attention to them.

They said that after completing the service, they decided to find out what had happened so they went to the alleged witchdoctor’s home.

There they reportedly found the 94-year-old and his client eating meat but were quickly shown a slaughtered goat.

Suspicious behaviour

The people said they then demanded to know where the girl the suspected witchdoctor had earlier called from the church was.

Resident James Mutembei said the girl delivered milk to the old man every day for pay. 

The residents said that upon asking about the Grade Two pupil’s whereabouts, the man and his client turned violent, prompting them to call police.

Mr Mutembei said that when police arrived, their search found the girl’s severed head hidden in a chicken coop.

When the police officers forced the two to show them the body, they were led to one of the houses in the compound, the residents said.

They added that they also found three slaughtered chickens with missing hearts.

“The old man, who is a known witchdoctor in the village, called the girl and asked her to collect some bottles. That is when the two slaughtered her and ate her heart,” Mr Mutembei claimed.

Police report

The suspects were taken to Ntumu Police Station and a probe opened.

A report from Magutuni Police Station gave a different account as reported by the 94-year-old, whom police said is a witchdoctor from Mpingu village, Kiroo.

The report says that in his report filed at the station,  he told police that his client went to his home and attacked the girl. 

The report says the girl’s body was found hidden in a goat shed, her head outside the shed and a slaughtered goat outside the compound.

Police said that inside the old man’s house was a slaughtered chicken and items used for witchcraft.

They collected two stained machetes from the scene.

The girl’s body was taken to Chuka mortuary .

Source: Tharaka Nithi girl’s head severed in suspected ritual killing

And: 

Village elder Mpingu narrates horrible murder of 9-year-old girl in Tharaka Nithi County – YouTube (video) – click here 

Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya

Kenya: mutilated body of girl, 14, discovered in thicket

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Allegedly, five girls have been murdered for ritualistic purposes in the past two years. Are these murders linked? Is a serial murderer responsible for these heinous crimes? Or have all five girls been lost to ritual killings?

Unfortunately, information is lacking wether anyone has been caught in relation to these murders. But the residents of the area are outspoken: “These senseless killings have to be stopped by the government.”

Indeed, the government must protect its citizens and arrest and bring to trial perpetrators of ugly crimes such as kidnapping, rape, torture and murder. (Webmaster FVDK)

Mutilated body of girl, 14, discovered in thicket

Published: December 17, 2020
By: The Standard, Kenya – Osinde Obare

Residents of Moi’s Bridge Township are mourning the death of a 14- year-old girl in a suspected ritual killing.

The mutilated body of Mary Erwusa, a pupil at Nabiswa primary school, was discovered in a sack dumped at Baharani forest near the township.

Erwasu had been sent by her parents to a local shop on Tuesday at around 9am to buy sacks to store maize when she was waylaid by unknown assailants.

After the disappearance of the girl, residents formed four groups and embarked on a search mission up to midnight.

On Wednesday morning the group discovered the body in a nearby forest.

George Omenga, the girl’s father, strongly condemned the attack that took away his daughter’s life.

“I had sent my daughter to buy some sacks to store maize…It is a beastly act and it has left us with a big mark,” said Omenge.

Maurice Odour, a resident, said they suspected that the deceased was gang-raped before she was killed.

He said Erwusa’s killing brings to five the number of minors killed in the past two years under similar circumstances.

Odour linked the killing to a ritual owing to the state of the body.

“We have lost five girls to ritual killings. These senseless killings have to be stopped by the government,” he said.

Late last year, Stacy Nasibo, 10, disappeared before her body was discovered at a thicket near Moi’s bridge.

On February 15 this year, Lucy Wanjiku, 13, was murdered and her body dumped at the same thicket.

Source: Mutilated body of girl, 14, discovered in thicket 

Kenya: three men to serve 35 years in jail for killing village mate over witchcraft claim

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The following is an interesting case. This time it’s not about a ritual murder, a killing for ritual purposes, to enhance one’s wealth, prestige or power. However, it does concern an unlawful killing (are there any killings that are lawful??): it was a killing based on superstition which the accused committed, according to the verdict of the judge.

The good thing about this case is that the rule of law was upheld, even though the crime dates from eight years ago. Three accused, Mr Chengo Kadenge, Safari Kombe Koi and his son Kahindi Safar Kombe, were found guilty of murdering Mr. Karisa Katoi Kani, on suspicion of bewitching a women, Mr. Koi’s wife. The judge found them guilty of the murder which happened in Matsongoni Village in Ganze, in Kilifi County, on December 8, 2012. The convicted men will spend the next 35 years in jail. 

It is interesting to note that judge Nyakundi explicitly stated that “(..) belief in witchcraft as a justification to kill another human being, is not excusable (…).” Justice Nyakundi added that a fundamental principle is that courts should intervene where culture and traditions are used as a defense or justification to commit murder. (webmaster FVDK).

Father, son to serve 35 years in jail for killing village mate over witchcraft claim

The entrance to Mombasa Courts 

Published: December 10, 2020
By: The Nation, Kenya – Philip Muyanga

Three villagers, among them a man and his son, will spend the next 35 years in jail after they were found guilty of murdering their villagemate on suspicion of bewitching a woman.

Mr Chengo Kadenge, Safari Kombe Koi and his son Kahindi Safari Kombe were found guilty of murdering Mr Karisa Katoi Kani, whom they had accused of committing deadly witchcraft.

The woman who died is said to have been Mr Koi’s wife.
In sentencing the accused, Justice Reuben Nyakundi said the murder was well planned and executed with a joint common enterprise and malice aforethought.

Justice Nyakundi further noted that a fundamental principle is that courts should intervene where culture and traditions are used as a defence or justification to commit murder.

“This court, being in the exalted position of a trial court in murder cases, has a right and obligation to speak firmly and expand jurisprudence touching on belief in witchcraft as a justification to kill another human being, is not excusable,” said Justice Nyakundi.

Cultural practices

Justice Nyakundi said it is evident that the social-cultural structures on witchcraft beliefs can result in the killing of vulnerable aged men and women of the community especially older people who are socially and economically disadvantaged and lack legal protection. 

The accused, jointly with others not in court, murdered Mr Kani on December 8, 2012, in Matsongoni Village in Ganze, in Kilifi County.

The court noted that prosecution witnesses supported a clear narrative that the accused engaged the deceased in a physical altercation following a witchcraft cleansing ritual at the home of Mr Koi.

The accused person gave the deceased a cup and water with a concoction which was to be used to heal or restore the life of the wife of the third accused (Mr Koi).

“From the evidence, the accused persisted in violent attacks against the deceased, as confirmed by prosecution witnesses one to four. The acts of violence involved the use of hard sticks and clubs to inflict harm on the head, and within a few minutes the victim died,” said Justice Nyakundi.

He further ruled that the measure of unlawfulness and omissions by the accused demonstrates beyond reasonable doubt that the victim’s death was neither justified nor excusable.

Justice Nyakundi also rejected the alibi defence by the accused. 

“The nuances of the alibi defence generated by the accused persons are of such a character as incapable of credible rebuttal,” said Justice Nyakundi.

In their defence, the accused denied committing the offence, saying they were not near the scene of the crime and, therefore, would not be expected to have killed the man.

pmuyanga@ke.nationmedia.com

Source: Father, son to serve 35 years in jail for killing village mate over witchcraft claim

Geographical map, Kilifi County, Kenya

Kenya: Police investigating the brutal murder of a 54-year-old man – was it a ritual killing?

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Whereas the following article on the gruesome murder of a 54-year man cannot be labelled a ‘ritual murder’ before the investigation surrounding his death has ended, some newspapers already call his cruel death a ‘ritual killing’ (see the second article below).

As usual, I wish to plead for prudence. However, notwithstanding the foregoing, I present the case here – with a disclaimer – for reasons which may be clear after reading the report below.  

Warning:
the following article contains graphic details of a gruesome murder (webmaster FVDK).

Police probing motive of 54-year-old man’s brutal killing

Naomi Wanjiru holds a photograph of her uncle Samuel Mungai who was murdered at Kabogo village in Murang’a County on November 5. Police are trying to establish the motive of the killing. Credit: Joseph Kanyi | Nation Media Group

Published: November 11, 2020
By: Nation, Kenya – Mwangi Muiruri

What you need to know:

  • The victim’s body was found in a pool of blood, about 300 metres from his house.
  • Police believe the elaborate murder was executed between 9pm and 11pm.

Residents of Kambogo village in Murang’a County are yet to come to terms with the horrific murder of Mr Samuel Mungai Gachihi on October 22.

The body of the 54-year-old man had no private parts, tongue, ears, eyes and nose when it was found — a murder that bore the marks of a ritual killing.

“The scene details indicate devilish work of a killer or killers who had all the time with the victim, going to the extent of skinning his head and harvesting all those organs,” said Kigumo police boss Michael Ndegwa.

The post-mortem report indicated that the man first suffered blunt force trauma to the top of his head, which cracked his skull. 

The assailant(s) then slit his throat and then “the evil of harvesting the organs was executed”.

Police believe the elaborate murder was executed between 9pm and 11pm, which was corroborated by some neighbours who reported hearing the man scream twice from around 9.30pm.

At the scene was an iron bar, three unused condoms, an empty cigarette packet and snuff wrappings.

Why anyone would want to kill Mungai so cruelly is the puzzle the police are trying to solve.

Horrific scene

No suspect has been arrested so far.

When the Nation team visited the village, journalists were shown where the body was found by a man who was taking milk to the dairy co-operative society. The body was found in a pool of blood, about 300 metres from his house.

“The scene was so horrifying that I have been seeing a counsellor weekly. It is a miracle that I’m still sane. It is the most horrible sight I have encountered in my 72 years in this world,” said Mr Moses Njau, who was among the first to arrive at the scene.

Mr Mungai’s niece, Naomi Wanjiru, said he never married and was known for loathing relationships.

Kigumo police boss Ndegwa said the man is confirmed to have arrived home on that fateful night at around 7pm and herded his two goats and five hens into his one-roomed house where they usually slept to avoid being stolen.

However, Mr Ndegwa said the motive was not stealing the animals and that Mr Mungai was most likely lured out of the house by a person known to him. 

The police boss said getting the killers hinged on the motive.

“We are working around some possibilities revolving around family feud, business rivalry, occultism and normal crime,” he said.

Person of interest

Mr Mungai was one of three siblings — a brother Harun Muhia and sister, Joyce Nyambura. 

Mr Muhia died in 2013, leaving his widow Jane Nduta, 61, and six daughters and one son. 

However, Mr Mungai is reported to have expressed a desire to get married. 

He was to get part of the family’s 0.7 acres, worth Sh800,000.

Mr Ndegwa said police are also looking into the religious inclination of all of Mr Mungai’s relatives and villagers, looking for evidence of occult practices.

Another theory is that the deceased was embroiled in a business feud. 

“There is one specific character being mentioned by the locals as a person of interest owing to macabre statements he was heard uttering at the scene and in the burial. 

“We are working on starting an onslaught against the suspects,” said Mr Ndegwa.

Source: Police probing motive of 54-year-old man’s brutal killing

Related:

RITUAL BLOODBATH Man, 54, slaughtered before his head skinned and eyes, ears and tongue cut out in horror ‘ritual killing’ in Kenya

Published: November 11, 2020
By: The Sun (UK) – Magda Ibrahim

The horror killing took place in a small village in Kenya’s Murang’a County
Credit: Getty Images – Getty

THE ‘DEVILISH’ work of a killer is being probed by police after the mutilated body of a man was found with his head skinned and eyes, ears and tongue cut out.

Samuel Mungai Gachihi, 54, was found in a pool of blood just metres from his home in Kenya.

His butchered body was found with his throat slit, his head skinned and his eyes gouged out, reported local media.

Tragic Mr Gachihi’s face had been completely disfigured, with his ears, tongue, nose missing, along with his private parts.

Residents of Kambogo village in Kenya’s central Murang’a County, around 100 miles north east of the capital Nairobi, claim the missing body parts point to a ritual killing.

We are working on possibilities revolving around…occultism 

“The scene details indicate devilish work of a killer or killers who had all the time with the victim, going to the extent of skinning his head and harvesting all those organs,” said Kigumo Superintendent of Police Michael Ndegwa.

The post-mortem report indicated Mr Gachihi first suffered blunt force trauma to the top of his head, cracking his skull in the attack earlier this month.

His throat was then slit and “the evil of harvesting the organs was executed” in the elaborate killing, reported the country’s Nation newspaper.

At the crime scene, officers found an iron bar, along with cigarettes, three unused condoms, and snuff wrappings.

Neighbour Moses Njau, 72, was the first to come across the grisly scene and told local media he had been left traumatised by his discovery.

“The scene was so horrifying that I have been seeing a counsellor weekly. It is a miracle that I’m still sane. It is the most horrible sight I have encountered in my 72 years in this world,” he said

The victim’s niece, Naomi Wanjiru, said her uncle had never married and lived alone.

Police said after he arrived home the evening of the attack, he herded his two goats and five hens into his house to avoid them being stolen.

It is believed he was later lured out of his house, around 300m away to the scene of the attack.

“We are working around some possibilities revolving around family feud, business rivalry, occultism and normal crime,” Supt Ndegwa told local media.

No arrests have been made.

The victim’s niece, Naomi Wanjiru, said her uncle had never married
Credit: nation.africa

Source: RITUAL BLOODBATH: Man, 54, slaughtered before his head skinned and eyes, ears and tongue cut out in horror ‘ritual killing; in Kenya

Muranga County, Kenya

Kenya: Uasin Gishu police arrest five following rape and murder of children – ritual murder suspected

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Another case, maybe not of a ritual murder, but of parents who fear that their child has become victim of a ritual murder. We always have to be careful in labelling a murder as a ritualistic act based on superstition, but it is striking that as soon as a mutilated body has been found local people think of a ritualistic killing. A very telling signal. One of their basic human rights is the right to live without fear. For this reason I have included the case below. (webmaster FVDK).

Uasin Gishu police arrest five following rape and murder of children

Nominated MCA Belinda Tirop (left) with Ms Loice Muthoni, Ms Sharon Sakwa and Ms Caroline Naliaka Nabiswa whose children’s murders remain unsolved. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Published: July 7, 2020
By: Daily Nation, Kenya – Titus Ominde     

Police in Moi’s Bridge have arrested five people on suspicion of being serial killers and defilers.

Five children have been found murdered in the town in seven months.

The arrests came after protests by Nominated Ward Representative Belinda Tirop and area residents.

Locals say the crimes could be linked to ritual killings.

Uasin Gishu county police chief Johnston Ipara praised the residents of Soy Sub-County for providing information that led to the arrests.

He added that more people would be arrested and prosecuted.

MISSING FOR A MONTH

The county police boss said the five have already appeared in court as police pursue two other people still at large.

“Detectives on the ground are gathering crucial information to link the pair to the ones who have already been arrested,” he said.

Early in the year, a man and his daughter were arraigned for the murder of a 12-year-old girl.

The two were freed when the prosecution said it could not link them to the heinous crime. 

Mr Ipara said those freed by courts are still being investigated.

“We have not given up on the suspects. They could be rearrested,” the county police commander said.

MUTILATED BODY

Two weeks ago, the mutilated body of Grace Njeri, who had been missing for a month, was found in a thicket.

This was the fifth child killing in six months.

 On December 31, Ms Sharon Sakwa’s daughter was killed in a similar fashion.

The girl, Stacy Nabiswa, was a Standard Five pupil.

She disappeared on New Year’s Eve and her body found near the railway line the following day.

Ms Sakwa accused police of doing little to apprehend the perpetrators of the crimes.

Thirteen-year-old Lucy Wanjiru was defiled and killed on January 16.

Her mother, a greengrocer, was at the market when the murder occurred.

FREED FOR LACK OF EVIDENCE

Wanjiru’s stepfather was arrested but released later due to lack of evidence.

The girl was a Standard Six pupil at Moi Township Primary School.

Two weeks ago, local leaders and residents held a demonstration on the Kitale-Eldoret road to protest the killings. They accused security agents of doing little to stop them.

In response to the protests, Mr Ipara urged residents to provide information that would lead to arrests and prosecutions.

Mr Ipara, however, challenged parents to monitor their children.

“Let us be responsible and watchful if we are to eradicate these incidents,” Mr Ipara said.

He advised families to ensure children do not go to the shop or market unaccompanied.

Source: Uasin Gishu police arrest five following rape and murder of children

Girl, 13, found dead in Kisumu in suspected ritual killing (Kenya)

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Allegedly, the eighth (such) killing since 2010. If true, it’s a crying shame. Will it ever stop? People living in fear. Perpetrators who go unpunished. The rule of impunity. And WHY??? (webmaster FVDK)

Girl, 13, found dead in Kisumu in suspected ritual killing

Residents at the scene where the body of a 13-year-old girl was on April 4, 2020 found dumped in Nyahera, Urudi village in Kisumu County. PHOTO | VICTOR RABALLA | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

Published: April 5, 2020
By: Daily Nation – Victor Raballa   

There was chaos on Saturday morning in Nyahera, Kisumu County after police lobbed tear gas canisters as they sought to carry away the body of a 13-year-old girl who was found brutally murdered in a suspected ritual killing.

Angry residents had protested and resisted an earlier attempt by the police to carry away the mutilated body of the Class Seven girl who is alleged to have disappeared at 1pm on Friday, shortly after delivering drinking water to her mother who was tilling her land a few meters from their home.

Residents suspected her murder is part of a ritual killing, citing seven other cases in which they claimed girls aged between eight and 14 years are targeted.

UNRESOLVED MURDERS

The angry residents had protested that police have not resolved past cases.

Ms Martha Auma, the girl’s mother, said she got alarmed at 6pm when she returned home only to find that her daughter, Tabitha Akinyi, had not returned.

“When I came back home, her siblings told me they had not seen her and thought she was helping me in the farm,” she said.

She immediately informed the chief who initiated a search around the village.

“I could not sleep at night and spent most of my time outside my house hoping she would come back,” said the tearful mother.

She woke up at 5.30am in the morning and went to check if Akinyi had decided to sleep at her friend’s home in the neighbouring village.

“However, on my way back, my heart sank when I heard some people wailing next to my home,” she said.

MUTILATED BODY

She dashed to the scene where she found the badly mutilated body of her second born child lying by the roadside, 200 meters from their house.

The body of Akinyi, a Standard Seven pupil at Ogada Primary School, was discovered by a passer-by who raised the alarm.

It is believed that the girl, who was strangled and had injuries on her face, was killed elsewhere and her body dumped at the scene where it was found.

For over six hours, hundreds of residents prevented the police from collecting the body as they complained over the rise similar incidents.

“This is now the eighth [such] killing since 2010,” said Mrs Grace Onyango who called on the police to urgently investigate the mysterious murders.

GIRLS TARGETED

“We have had enough of this and we will not allow our innocent children to be butchered like animals. There is no need for the police to carry the body since they have so many unresolved cases pending,” said Mr Charles Otieno.

He termed the killings as unusual as the perpetrators only target girls aged eight to 14 years.

“This is [probably] some kind of ritual which must be busted by law enforcement agencies before we take the matter into our own hands,” he said.

Police officers who arrived at the scene were forced to get backup to repulse the villagers who thronged the scene.

Kisumu County Police Commander Ranson Rolmodooni assured the residents that his officers will get to the bottom of the matter and ensure all those involved are arrested.

The body of girl was taken to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary to await post-mortem.

Source: Girl, 13, found dead in Kisumu in suspected ritual killing