Panic gripped residents of Kiamaina village, Laikipia County, who were shocked to find the body of businesswoman Mary Muturi after she had gone missing for three days.
It is reported that the murderers of the 38-year-old left Sh300,000 cash beside her body.
Ms Muturi was found on Wednesday on a bed in one of the houses in her compound, three days after she last communicated with friends and relatives.
Neighbours said a taxi driver dropped Ms Muturi off at her gate on Monday evening.
Mr Stephen Maingi, the area’s assistant chief, said residents found Ms Muturi’s main door locked so they had to break in. They found everything intact.
“We later decided to check another house located within the compound. It was also locked. After breaking in, we found the body in the bed,” he said.
“It seemed she had been strangled and hit with a blunt object. The injuries were visible and there were blood stains all over the bed.”
Nyahururu Sub-county Police Commander Geoffrey Maiyek said they had not yet established the motive for the murder but were following crucial leads.
Residents said they were worried about the rising number of murders in the area – Ms Muturi’s case was the fifth in less than six months.
Ms Muturi’s body was taken to Nyahururu County Referral Hospital mortuary.