Body of missing 9-year found in Mathira West pit latrine

The body of a nine-year-old girl reported missing earlier this week was recovered on Monday from a pit latrine in Kianjathi village, Mathira West.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the child disappeared on February 8, 2026, after her parents left home in the morning, leaving her with her four-year-old sister.

According to the DCI, when the parents returned at around 6:30 pm, the girl was nowhere to be found.

They immediately reported her disappearance to the police, prompting an intensive search. Officers discovered a pair of undergarments and shoes on a blue mattress inside an abandoned house nearby.

The girl’s mother confirmed that the items belonged to her daughter. Crime Scene Investigations officers collected the items as exhibits.

Police later arrested a suspect following an intelligence lead.

The suspect guided investigators to his homestead, where the child’s body was recovered from a pit latrine with assistance from residents.

The body was moved to a mortuary for preservation and a post-mortem examination.

Investigators said preliminary findings indicate that the suspect allegedly lured the younger sibling away from the house with Sh10 to buy sweets, leaving the victim alone.

Police believe the suspect then committed a serious offence before disposing of the child’s body.

The suspect was presented in court, where police obtained a 21-day custodial order to allow further investigations.

The DCI condemned the killing, describing it as a “heinous crime against a child,” and reiterated the police’s commitment to protecting vulnerable members of society.

“Perpetrators of crimes against children will face the full force of the law,” the agency said.

Police have urged anyone with information that may assist in the ongoing investigations to report to the nearest station or contact the DCI’s toll-free hotline.

In a separate case on Monday, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) secured a conviction and life imprisonment sentence in a defilement case involving an 11-year-old girl at the Chuka Law Courts.

The ODPP said the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, leading the court to find the accused guilty and impose the maximum penalty provided by law.

According to the ODPP, the incident occurred when the complainant’s mother left the minor and her siblings alone at home to spend the night at Kaanwa Market with her boyfriend during a heavy downpour.

The accused, a neighbour known to the complainant, allegedly broke into the house while disguised and armed with a knife.

“Taking advantage of the prevailing circumstances, the accused person, a neighbour well known to the complainant, unlawfully broke into the complainant's house. He had disguised himself by covering his head and shoulders with a scarf and was armed with a knife,” the ODPP stated.

The accused reportedly threatened to kill the minor if she screamed or raised an alarm before forcibly removing her from the house and taking her to a nearby maize plantation, where he defiled her.

The conviction highlights ongoing efforts by authorities to prosecute crimes against children and ensure accountability.

Both incidents have drawn attention to the risks faced by minors when left unsupervised and underline the authorities’ call for public vigilance.

Police continue to investigate the Mathira West case, seeking to establish the full circumstances surrounding the child’s death.