Police officers are investigating the triple murder of three family members whose bodies were found dumped near their home in Ngoliba Ward, Thika East Constituency.

Peninah Wairimu Ngugi, 87, her 50-year-old daughter Pauline Njeri, and their housekeeper were identified as the three bodies.

PHOTO | COURTESY Triple homicide: mother daughter and house help brutally murdered

According to witnesses, two of the bodies were recovered inside their newly constructed home, while the third, which had been beheaded, was located buried in a shallow grave a few meters away.

The three bodies were already decomposing. They were likely murdered on Friday night by unknown perpetrators.

Police officials discovered two bloodied knives outside the residence, which they believe were used to stab the three.

PHOTO | COURTESY Neighbours at the scene

According to Kahoro Mbogo, a neighbor, the three had been missing since Saturday last week.

He stated that the family members had been collecting milk from his farm but had not picked the milk since Saturday, raising the possibility that they had been murdered at that time.

“They have been picking milk from my home but have not collected it since Saturday. We suspect the murder may have happened before Saturday,” said Mbogo.

Thika East police chief Andrew Sora confirmed the occurrence, noting that police are following up on important leads in order to apprehend one of the men suspected of carrying out the savage murder.

PHOTO | COURTESY police car

“This may have happened about two to three days before as the bodies are already decomposing. We have begun our investigations and are optimistic that we will have the suspects arrested for prosecution. It’s very unfortunate,” said Sora.

Villagers reported the family was calm and had just been in the village for roughly three years.

The bodies of the deceased were later moved to Thika's General Kago mortuary, awaiting a postmortem to determine the cause of death as officers continued with their investigations.