A somber mood has descended on Mugari village in Kiambere Ward, Embu County after the body of a middle-aged woman was found floating in a nearby river.
The community is struggling to comprehend the tragic death of 44-year-old Jane Mwende Kilonzi, a mother of seven, who was last seen on Tuesday evening.
Her body showed signs of a brutal attack, with injuries to her head and limbs, and her eyes had been gouged out. Bloodstains and rods believed to have been used in the assault were discovered nearby.
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Authorities are searching for a farmhand suspected of being involved in the crime. The man, who had reportedly begun a relationship with Mwende after her husband’s death last year, has since gone into hiding.
Village elder Jonathan Muswii confirmed the suspect’s disappearance. At the same time, Mwende’s niece, Catherine Njoki, shared that she last spoke to her aunt around 4 p.m. on Tuesday, with no indication of anything being wrong.
Neighbors reported that the suspect was seen at the victim's home until 11 p.m. that night when screams were heard but quickly stopped.
The body has been moved to Embu Level Five Hospital as investigations continue.
