Shock as man’s body found dumped near hostels

Residents of Gitunduti village in Mathira East, Nyeri County woke up to a shocking incident after the body of a 24-year-old man was found dumped by the roadside near students hostels.

The body had a deep cut in the neck and the wound stuffed with mud.

Area OCPD James Barasa said they suspect that Patrick Kario could have been killed elsewhere and the body dumped near Karatina University.

“The place where the body was dumped doesn’t appear like the place he was murdered because there was no sign of struggle but investigations will reveal more into the incident,” said Barasa.

Barasa said the man who was a casual labourer was last seen on Saturday night at his home.

“His parents identified him and said they saw him the previous night at 11pm but they did not know where he went,” said the OCPD.

Witnesses who saw the body on Monday morning said there was a carrier bag with fruits beside it.

"It was such a shocking scene. We have never seen anything like this in this area,” said Kibet Ngeleiyo, a Criminology student in Karatina University.

The murder has instilled fear among locals who now want a police post in the area and regular patrols, with Ngeleiyo noting that the body was dumped between Laibon and Golf Course students’ hostels in the area.

Residents asked the police to intensify patrols in the area citing possible cases of crime during the festive season.

The body was taken to Karatina Hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem as crime detectives launch investigations.