Police probe murder of serving officer found dead in Kabete bushes

By Sammy Kimatu
Police in Dagoretti are investigating the suspected murder of a 46-year-old police officer whose body was discovered dumped in bushes in Kagira, Kabete Sub-County, Kiambu County.

According to police records at Kinoo Police Station, officers were alerted after a man identified as Patrick Chege allegedly reported to the Deputy OCS at the station that he had killed his wife and dumped her body in bushes in the Kagira area.

Following the report, officers from Kabete Police Station responded to the area and launched a search. They later recovered the body of an adult woman lying in the bushes.

The deceased had visible injuries to the head, which police suspect may have been inflicted with a blunt object. She also had injuries to her left hand, while marks on her legs were suspected to have been caused by tight binding with a rope.

Police recovered a hammer and a Maasai sword from the scene, which were secured as exhibits as investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death continued.

Officer identified

A search of the deceased’s body also led to the recovery of identification documents, including a Certificate of Appointment (COA). The document identified her as No. 229582 Sergeant Gladys Nyaguthe Kirika, aged 46.

Police records indicate that Sgt Kirika was a serving officer attached to Subuiga Police Station in Buuri West Sub-County, Meru County.

The scene was processed by Scene of Crime personnel, who documented the area and collected material considered relevant to the investigation. The body was subsequently removed and taken to PCEA Kikuyu Funeral Home, where it was booked under Admission Number 779, pending a post-mortem examination.

The examination is expected to help establish the definitive cause and approximate time of death.

Meanwhile, Chege is receiving treatment at St Luke’s Hospital in Kinoo after he allegedly attempted to take his own life following the incident.

Police said investigations were ongoing and that the suspect’s medical condition would be taken into consideration as officers pursue the case.

Suspected murder

The matter has been recorded as a suspected murder and death of a police officer, with the investigation being handled by Divisional Crime officers in Dagoretti.

Detectives are expected to establish the circumstances that preceded Sgt Kirika’s death, the nature of her relationship with the suspect, the possible motive and the sequence of events leading to the discovery of her body.

Investigators are also expected to examine the recovered hammer and Maasai sword, alongside other evidence collected from the scene, as part of efforts to establish what happened.

Police will further record statements from relevant witnesses and await the findings of the post-mortem examination before making further determinations regarding the case.

The circumstances surrounding the death remain under investigation.