Two suspects are in custody today following the brutal killing of a 72-year-old grandmother, ending a short but intense manhunt that has gripped Kirinyaga County.

The arrests bring a sliver of relief to Kegua village, where the discovery of Margaret Wandauma Maina’s body has reignited fears regarding the safety of the elderly in rural communities. While the motive remains under investigation, the swift action by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) signals a potential breakthrough in a case that shocked local residents.

A Grim Discovery

The tragedy began to unfold on the evening of December 13, 2025. Police reports indicate that Ms. Maina was last seen alive at the Muthigiini Shopping Centre around 5:40 p.m. She left the establishment presumably to head home, but she never arrived.

The search for the missing senior citizen ended in heartbreak the following day. A concerned member of the public, spotting an anomaly in a secluded area of Kegua village, alerted authorities. Officers arrived to find the victim's body dumped in a thicket.

According to the DCI, the scene painted a harrowing picture of her final moments. Officers found the deceased half-naked with visible injuries to her forehead, suggesting a violent struggle. At the scene, investigators recovered several personal effects that confirmed her identity and may serve as crucial evidence:

• A duplicate national identity card.
• An ATM card.
• A mobile phone.

Forensic Leads and Justice

Detectives from Kirinyaga East did not rely solely on witness accounts. The DCI confirmed that the apprehension of the two key suspects was the result of "intensive" work aided significantly by forensic leads. This suggests that data from the recovered mobile phone or biological evidence at the scene played a pivotal role in tracking the alleged perpetrators.

The body has been moved to Kibugi Funeral Home, where a post-mortem examination is scheduled. This procedure will be critical in establishing the exact cause of death and determining whether further charges will be preferred against the suspects.

As the community waits for the autopsy results, the focus now shifts to the courts, where the suspects are expected to be arraigned to answer for a crime that has robbed a family of a matriarch and a village of its peace.