Crime scene

Police are investigating the murder of a truck driver whose body was found hours after he was reported missing in Makueni County.

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), attached to Matuu Police Station in Machakos County, together with their counterparts from Tawa Police Station in Makueni County, launched the probe after the driver’s body was discovered dumped near the border of the two counties.

The 26-year-old was found at Kasyelia Village in Tawa, Mbooni Subcounty, on Wednesday.

Read Also
Red hot Omanyala to orchestrate Kenya's 4x100m charge at World Relays today Athletics
Cup pressure peaks as Shabana host Kenya Police in blockbuster quarter-final Football
Upper Hill coach Walgwe unperturbed despite drawing giants in Prescott Cup group phase Rugby

According to police, the driver was transporting a lorry loaded with 259 bags of cement in Athi River when he was reportedly hijacked by unknown assailants on Tuesday night.

A police report filed at Matuu Police Station indicates that the lorry had been tracked along the Athi River–Machakos–Masii–Mwala–Matuu route.

Enjoying this article? Subscribe for unlimited access to premium sports coverage.
View Plans

However, upon reaching Masii, the vehicle was diverted towards the Tawa area, after which the driver’s mobile phone went offline.

Alarmed by the unusual route change and loss of contact, the lorry’s owner reported the matter to Matuu Police Station at around 11:00 pm on Tuesday.

The lorry was later found abandoned at Kithuia Shopping Centre at approximately 1:30 am on Wednesday. A police source said the ignition key was still in the vehicle, but the driver and other occupants were missing.

Officers in Tawa immediately launched a search for the missing driver. Hours later, his body was discovered in a bush in Kasyelia Village.

Police said the body bore visible injuries, with the hands tied behind the back and a rope around the neck, suggesting foul play.

The body was taken to Tawa Mortuary pending a postmortem examination, while the lorry was towed to Tawa Police Station for further investigations.

Preliminary findings indicate that the driver may have been murdered elsewhere before his body was dumped at the scene. Police also noted that the cement cargo remained intact and had not been tampered with.

Investigations are ongoing as officers pursue suspects linked to the carjacking and murder.