Police in Magutuni, Tharaka Nithi County are hunting for a man who allegedly kidnapped and killed a seven – year – old boy from the area.
Remains of the deceased were found dumped at Tungu River in Muthambi Sub – County, approximately 30 kilometers from his residential home.
Confirming the incidence, County Police Commander Zachaeus Ng’eno said the suspect reportedly kidnapped the minor, Francis Macharia, near Kiurani Primary School gate as he ended home from school.
According to Ng’eno, an investigation launched as soon as a report was made showed that the suspect was holding hostage of the boy.
“I can confirm that we have retrieved a body from Tunga River and it belongs to the boy from Magutuni who was abducted on his way from school”, Ng’eno said.
The police commander said the suspect is still on the run and urged members of the public to be on the lookout and report to the police in case they know of his whereabouts.
The parents of the boy, Mr Martin Maina and Ms Diana Mukiri, say they were alarmed after the boy failed to show up by Wednesday 6pm and as such launched a search mission hoping to find their son.
They were tipped by some area residents that their son was spotted in the company oof the suspect as they ended to Keeria market Wednesday evening.
The suspect, who is said to have been married to Ms Annet Mukiri,- a sister of Gakii – but now divorced, has reportedly been touring their home armed with a panga and threatening to kill Mukiri and her relatives.
Mukiri narrated how the suspect injured her sister with a panga on one of the occasions, an incident they reported to Magutuni police post.
She says her neighbous once rescued them as the husband tried to harm her child.
“At the beginning of this year, I ran to safety after he threatened to kill me”, said Mukiri.
Mr John Mucunku, Mukiri’s father said that he advised her daughter to leave the marriage for her safety as the two had been on a prolonged quarrel.
Mucunku further revealed that the suspect has been blaming the boy’s mother for his unsettling family and that he must have killed the minor for revenge.
“He has been threatening to kill us all and this is without doubts the reason he committed the evil”, said Mucunku
