Mutilated body of accountant missing since July found dumped in game conservancy

The body of an accountant who has been missing since July 17 has been found in a mortuary.

The mutilated body of Naaman Karani, 36, had been lying at the mortuary for nearly three weeks before his relatives identified it.

Police told The Standard the body was found by herders in Kalama Conservancy two months after Karani was reported missing. The matter was reported to rangers.

Isiolo police station commander Mohammed Bakuli said officers from the Archers post took the body to the Isiolo hospital mortuary on September 19, where it lay unclaimed.

A mortuary attendant is said to have found Karani’s business card and his kin’s contacts as they were preparing to dispose of the body.

Mr Bakuli said they were seeking to know how the body was transported to the conservancy, as Karani was suspected to have been murdered in Isiolo town.

“We are following leads to establish what transpired. The body was brought by officers from Archers post and we sent detectives to the scene of crime. Investigations on the postmortem examination are pending,” Bakuli said.

Evelyne Karani holds a photo of her husband, Naaman Karani. [Olivia Murithi, Standard]

Family spokesman Paul Mungania said a DNA test would be conducted at the hospital before a burial date is set.

“We have identified his body but a DNA test will be done... his mother will donate samples,” said Mr Mungania.

The family had previously alleged that police turned them away when they sought to record statements after they linked an employee of a bar in Isiolo town to Karani’s killing. Karani was last seen drinking at the said bar.

Mungania said police had not visited the bar or questioned its management.

Karani’s wife, Evelyne, said she had talked with him two hours before his phone went off.

“He had called and told me he was attacked by the bar attendants after he failed to clear a bill. He was asking me to send him money to pay for the alcohol. That was at around 6pm. However, by 8pm, when l tried to reach him, his phone was off,” Evelyne said.