The 17 year old late Stephen Kiruri, from Gitui village was living under the care of his grandparents and went missing last Saturday, March 16, only for his body that bore head injuries to be found two days later floating in the river.
His grandfather Stephen Kiruri who broke down several times as he explained how the deceased met his death narrated how he abandoned washing his clothes and left the compound after he was called by unknown youths who are in his age bracket during the day never to be seen again.
“After he failed to come back on Saturday night, we consoled ourselves that he had spent the night at his friend’s home that was unusual with hope that he will come the following day. However, this was not to be and when he didn’t come fear for his safety gripped us”.
The grandfather revealed on Wednesday that he dispatched his son Nelson Gakahu to go make a report that he was missing at Kahuro police station where he was questioned by officers his relationship with the deceased and advised to go and inform his father (grandfather to the deceased) to visit the station the following day since it was late. Kiruri was then informed that a body was retrieved from the river and he identified it as the missing Kiruri based on photos taken by the officer.
“The photos had been taken when the body was in the river, when removed and placed near the banks of the river facing upwards and while lying on the back and I positively identified the body to be his. The body had bad injuries inflicted on the head and my next point of call was at Muriranjas Hospital mortuary where I went and further confirmed the body was his”.
His mother Emma Wanjiku said she initially learnt that he was missing through a call made to her while in Nairobi and later his death confirmed by his cousins who went to pay her a visit with the heart breaking news.
“I sensed they were bearers of some bad news and I told them to tell me whether he was alive or dead and they told me he had been found murdered. I call upon the police to bring his killers to book”.
The mother said. He described his son as respectable and one who was disciplined. His uncle Nelson Gakahu added that there were blood stains in a bush next to the river an indication that he was first killed and then the body thrown into the river.
The stomach was not bloated by taking in the water an indication that suggests he was thrown into the river when dead. His shoes were also found across the river. The family members have recorded statements with the police with detectives visiting their home and are calling on police to question two men who were found with him last on the day he went missing.
“We are told they were found together at Gitige shopping centre a few kilometres near our home and they even bought cakes and ate from a shop belonging to a shopkeeper called Wakarish”. The grandfather to the deceased revealed.