Echariria residents raise concerns over children's safety after another girl is defiled and killed
Leah Muthoni mother to the grade nine student Grace Nyarua breaks into tears as he explains the state in which the body of her child was found, with stab wounds as she calls for justice for her daughter
Residents of Eshariria Echariria village in Kasambara, Gilgil Sub-County are demanding justice for the Grade 9 student, Grace Nyarua who was defiled before being murdered
Ng’arua’s lifeless body was discovered on Monday beside a railway line after she went missing overnight.
Grace’s mother, Leah Muthoni, said her daughter went missing on Sunday at around 6.40pm while she was preparing dinner at their home.
Muthoni recalled that the family had spent a happy afternoon together, with Grace preparing to return to school. She had also gone to the salon to have her hair done before returning home and beginning to prepare a meal.
“We had a great afternoon. She was preparing to go back to school and had gone to the salon to get her hair done. After that, she came home and started preparing a meal in the kitchen. At around 6.40pm, I realised she was no longer in the kitchen, and I immediately informed her father,” Muthoni said.
Grace’s father, Onesmus Njuguna, said an evening search was immediately conducted within the village after she went missing, but the family was unable to find her.
The following morning, he proceeded to Kiungororia Police Station to file a missing person report.
“On my way back home, I noticed a group of people gathered next to the railway line. I became curious and decided to approach them. Upon approaching the scene, someone told me that a dead person had been found beside the railway line. When I moved closer to see the body, I saw Grace lying there lifeless, with visible injuries on her face,” he said before breaking down in tears.
Grade nine student Grace Nyarua whose lifeless body was found in Echariria village sparking outrage in Mbaruk.
The incident has renewed fears over the safety of children, particularly girls, in Echariria village.
Mwaniki wa Njeri, a resident of Echariria, lamented the rising insecurity in the area and questioned whether enough was being done to protect the girl child.
“Grace is not the first child to be defiled. There was Jasmine and, as we are handling Grace’s case, another Grade 10 student has gone missing and her parents are seeking support to search for her,” Mwaniki said.
Mwaniki urged the relevant security authorities to intensify patrols and crack down on rampant drug and substance abuse, which he said had contributed to the growing insecurity in the area.
As the family mourns, Muthoni has appealed to Nakuru leaders to intervene and help them pursue justice for her daughter.
“I am calling upon Nakuru leaders led by Governor Susan Kihika, Tabitha Karanja, Gilgil MP Martha Wangari and Woman Representative Liza Chelule to help me pursue justice for my child.It is painful to bring up a child through so much struggle, only for someone to brutally murder them. I want justice for my daughter,” the mother of two said.
Residents are calling for thorough investigations to establish what happened to the Grade 9 student and ensure those responsible are brought to justice.