Inside string of murders, police laxity, that drove Njoro residents to mob justice

Two male adults were on Monday November 10, subjected to mob justice in Piave, Njoro, one of them a 16-year ex-convict, accused of child sodomy and murder, while the other was allegedly accused of hiring the ex-convict to kill a woman identified as Mercy Wambui, a resident in Piave.

News of Wambui’s death broke on August 13, three days after she went missing on August 10, 2025. Her body was later recovered from River Ndarugu, sparking outrage and fear among residents.

Since then, the Piave area has witnessed a disturbing rise in cases of sodomy and mysterious killings. Despite repeated reports, residents say no meaningful arrests or prosecutions have been made, deepening their frustrations with law enforcement.

According to Morris (not his real name), who spoke on condition of anonymity, the weakest link to security in Piave, Kenyatta and its environs is the Sunrise Police Post, which he accuses of persistent inaction.

 “After Wambui’s death, we complained about the inaction of officers from Sunrise Police Post and even requested that new officers be deployed here,” Morris laments.

 Mtaa Wangu had previously reported on several murder cases in Piave.

 A Resident Mama Njoki recalls that the killings began with Shosho Salome, who was raped and killed in her home in July. Shortly after, the body of James Mwangi was found dumped in River Ndarugu.

In August, Mercy Wambui was sexually assaulted, killed, and dumped in the same river, while Dorcas Nyabuto’s body was also recovered there, though police later ruled her death a suicide.

 The latest incidents include the sodomy of a Grade Nine pupil by his ex-convict uncle on October 26, followed by the murder of a Grade Six pupil whose body was discovered by the roadside on November 10.

According to Gachingiri, a resident of Sunrise, the boy’s body was found with his throat deeply slit. He says residents have repeatedly called for the installation of streetlights and the transfer of officers from the Sunrise Police Post, but their pleas have gone unanswered.

  “We have complained so many times about insecurity, but nothing changes. People are being killed, and the police just come to collect bodies,” he states.

 Morris revealed that the ex-convict had been hiding within the community since October 26, but police were slow to respond despite several alerts from residents.

 He added that it took mob action for the community to “serve justice” to the two suspects who had been living among them under the guise of being respectable community members.

 Residents now blame both the police and local leaders for their inaction, saying it has forced them to take the law into their own hands. They warn that continued inaction could push them to camp at the Sunrise Police Post and demand its closure.

 Another resident ,George Kaguru, notes that residents should not be killing any suspect they find through public arrest. Adding that they should be handing them to police, to point out who they are working with.

"As it stands we do not know who killed the grade six child. Maybe if the two were still alive they would have shed some light on the circumstances under which the boy was killed. We are now unsure if the killer is roaming among us or if it's among the two who were killed by the mob," says Kaguru.

When reached for comment, Njoro Sub-County Police Commander Stanley Koech confirmed that police are investigating the incidents.

 Speaking to Mtaa Wangu in a phone interview, Koech says preliminary reports indicate the Grade Six pupil’s body was found with deep cuts on his throat and blood oozing from the private organs from behind, suggesting a possible sexual assault before death.

 “We are unsure if the community took action on the ex- convict after they found the boy’s body in this state, since he went missing on Sunday on his way back from church, or this was a coincidence. However, we are looking into the matter,” Koech says.

 He added that police had been pursuing the ex-convict before the mob attack occurred. Further mentioning they had acted on a tip off from community members when they saw the ex -convict around, but police missed him.

  “We were already closing in on him after receiving reports from the community, however they got to them first and resulted to the mob Justice way and lynched the culprits,” he explains.

 On allegations that officers from Sunrise Police Post have been inactive, Koech defended his team, saying they have been doing their best to handle the rising insecurity in the area.

 “As far as I’m concerned, our officers have been active,” he says.

Koech condemned the mob justice, describing it as unlawful and counterproductive.

 “Mob injustice is not law. It happens spontaneously and I wish it could be controlled. This denies police a chance to dig deeper into such criminal acts. Assuming we had more culprits back in the community the suspects would help us get to them. We must sensitize residents on the importance of following due process because when there is lawlessness, little benefit is gained,” he emphasizes.

He added that investigations into Wambui’s murder will continue despite the deaths of the two. Noting the matter will be registered in court on a public inquest request.