Crime sceneA 28-year-old woman has been arrested after detectives allegedly discovered the body of her 66-year-old partner buried beneath the floor of the house they shared in Laikipia County, in a suspected murder that has shocked residents.
Police identified the deceased whose body was exhumed from the house at Nyakumu Village in Muramati Location, Laikipia East Sub-County, on Monday.
According to investigators, the couple had been living together since June this year.
Detectives responding to reports of a suspected murder said they became suspicious after noticing a raised section of the floor beneath the couple's bed, suggesting someone had recently dug and covered the area.
Police obtained a court order before exhuming the body.
Pathologists from Nanyuki Teaching and Referral Hospital, public health officers and Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) personnel processed the scene before the body was moved to the hospital mortuary, where it is awaiting a post-mortem examination.
Preliminary investigations indicate the elderly man is suspected to have been killed on Friday. Police said this timeline was based on information allegedly provided by the suspect during questioning.
Investigators said the woman, who was the only other occupant of the house, allegedly led detectives to the burial site and helped them recover items believed to have been used in the killing and concealment of the body.
Among the recovered exhibits were a panga allegedly buried in a manure heap outside the house and an iron bar recovered from a nearby thicket.
Detectives also recovered two spades and a fork jembe from the house, which they believe were used to dig the grave and conceal the body.
The suspect is being held at Nanyuki Police Station and is expected to be arraigned as investigations continue.
Police said it is still unclear whether she acted alone, while the motive behind the suspected killing has not yet been established.
Authorities say murder cases have continued to rise in different parts of the country, with many linked to domestic disputes, love triangles, financial disagreements and land conflicts. Some suspects have been arrested, while other cases remain under investigation.
