The decomposed body of an 80-year-old woman who had been reported missing was exhumed on Wednesday in Mitulani Village, Chonyi Sub-County, Kilifi County.
Police said two suspects who were last seen at the home of the woman, identified as Zippora Willmote, were arrested and arraigned pending murder investigations.
Police obtained orders to exhume the body before the exercise was conducted on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.
The body was moved to the local mortuary pending further procedures.
Willmote was last seen alive last month, and a search for her had been ongoing.
The suspected grave site was discovered on Saturday, August 22, 2026, by a relative of the woman, police said.
The relative reportedly encountered the suspicious area while walking through a farm towards Willmote’s home.
He noticed a section covered with dry leaves and branches and, after stepping on it, began sinking into the ground, he told police.
He told police he moved away and examined the area more closely, where he allegedly spotted two jembes hidden separately in a nearby bush.
Police visited the scene, secured the area and commenced preliminary investigations, which led to the exhumation.
The motive had not been established, with police saying they were investigating the incident as a suspected murder.
Officials said such incidents have been linked to land disputes amid the ongoing investigations.
Meanwhile, police in Embu County have launched investigations into the suspected murder of an unidentified man whose body was discovered along the banks of River Cevi in Ngeniari Village, Embu East Sub-County.
Police visited the scene and established that the deceased was an unknown male adult believed to be about 40 years old.
The body was found lying beside River Cevi with the head partially submerged in the water.
Investigators observed an injury at the back of the head, while the man’s left ear had been cut and one tooth was missing. Police are investigating whether he may have been assaulted before his death.
Crime scene personnel from the DCI processed the scene before the body was removed to Runyenjes Level 4 Hospital Mortuary, where it is awaiting identification and a post-mortem examination.
Police have commenced investigations to establish the identity of the deceased, the circumstances surrounding his death and those responsible. No arrests had been made by Thursday.
