Police in Nakuru are investigating the death of Hannah Waithera, who disappeared a week ago, before her decomposing body was discovered at Nakuru County mortuary.
In a video obtained by Kenyans.co.ke, Waithera's devastated family, said they went to the mortuary after reports of an unidentified woman's body went around. Her mother, Mary Njeri, told the media that they were shocked to discover that indeed, the body was that of her daughter, who went missing on Wednesday, May 21.
"We have been told that my daughter was found in a dam full of dirty water in Soilo. Her body was covered with hay. What will I tell her child?" an inconsolable Njeri said.
The 23-year-old Waithera is said to have been sent to deposit Ksh250,000 to a local bank, but she never made it back to the shop.
Initially, it was suspected that Waithera had taken off with the money, which led investigators to raid her home. Njeri and Waithera's husband, Zacchary Wanjohi, said investigators tormented them on suspicion that they had collaborated with Waithera to take the money.
Wanjohi, who runs a car hire business, claimed the police snatched over Ksh49,000 he had made from his business, claiming it was part of the Ksh250,000 Waithera had allegedly stolen.
"They even saw a new fridge we bought a few days ago and said it was bought with the money they accused my wife of stealing. They harassed me and went on to harass Waithera's mother," a tearful Wanjohi said on Wednesday.
Nakuru West Sub-County Police Commander Stephen Kirui told KTN News that the body was found at Technology Farm in Njoro.
"Residents noticed a foul smell coming from a dam on the farm. When they went to check, they discovered a human body. Our officers later collected the body," said Kirui.
"The body had decomposed so much that we could not even establish if there were any physical injuries on it," the police boss said, adding that Waithera may have been killed elsewhere before her body was dumped at the farm where it was found covered in grass.
The victim's husband and mother are calling on the police to get to the bottom of the matter and ensure justice for their loved one. They accused the police of not acting swiftly when they reported Waithera's disappearance and instead resorted to harassing them.
When they received reports that Waithera had gone to the bank but failed to return to work, Njeri and Wanjohi started searching for her. They even went to the local police station to ask for assistance in locating her.
The officers started tracking her phone, which showed she was travelling towards Nairobi around Kijabe, along the Nakuru-Nairobi highway. The family said they attempted to call Waithera's phone, but it could not connect. About 6 pm, the phone had been turned off.
"Waithera's three-year-old daughter has been crying ever since she left. What will we tell her?" Njeri said.
Speaking to the Nation, the family claimed that while Waithera was still unaccounted for, individuals who said they were detectives from the DCI stormed Waithera's house and physically abused Wanjohi and other family members in front of the daughter.
The officers reportedly stole Ksh49,350 from Wanjohi and claimed they were reclaiming the money his wife had stolen.
“They assaulted us and called us thieves. They claimed that we knew where Waithera was. One of the officers drew his gun and pointed it at me. I felt like they were not willing to help us. They just wanted the money, and were not interested in my missing wife,” a tearful Wanjohi told the Nation.
