The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has apprehended a 17-year-old suspect who allegedly killed a three-year-old girl near a church in Nakuru.
In a statement on Monday, June 23, DCI confirmed that the suspect was arrested at her home in Judea Village, Menengai Sub-Location, within Kiamaina Ward.
According to the detectives, the suspect allegedly lured the three-year-old girl away from the PCEA Shalom Mchanganyiko Church, approximately 50 metres away, and went ahead to strangle her using a cloth.
The child was later found unconscious, and despite being rushed to the hospital, she was declared dead upon arrival.
"Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect reportedly lured little Margaret away from the church, leading her to a secluded place, where she strangled her using a piece of cloth. The motive, however, is yet to be established," DCI said.
"This is after officers received a disturbing report about a young child found unconscious approximately 50 meters from PCEA Shalom Mchanganyiko Church. Unfortunately, despite swift action, the child was pronounced dead upon arrival at Kenlands Hospital," it added.
Upon her arrest, the detectives managed to retrieve the cloth she used to strangle the child as well as the cloth she wore during the act.
"The suspect is currently in custody, where she is undergoing processing pending arraignment," DCI confirmed.
The incident comes a month after the detectives arrested two child trafficking suspects who had abducted a three-year-old boy in Ruiru in Kiambu County.
After the boy's abduction, DCI confirmed that the Child's parents reported his disappearance at the Ruiru police Station, which led to a search for the child across Western and Central Kenya
In a statement on Tuesday, May 27, the detectives, who confirmed the successful recovery of the child, said that the suspects were nabbed in Tetu, Nyeri county, where they were found holding the missing boy.
"Storming one of the suspects' houses in Tetu, Nyeri County, detectives found the minor in the company of the house owner and the man believed to have snatched him away from his Ruiru home, thereby rescuing him to safety and cuffing the two suspects," a statement from the detectives read.
