Shock as shamba boy allegedly murders elderly couple in Molo

Residents of Taragonik village, Mariashoni , have been left in shock after the brutal killing of Jerusha and Pius Machogu, allegedly at the hands of their farm worker.

According to Molo sub county Police commander Timon Odingo the suspect, identified as Sisa Juma, confessed to killing the couple and dumping their bodies in a well within their homestead.

“Juma had gone to the Elburgon police station in the company of Machogu's niece to file a missing person case. However later on, through interrogation Juma confessed that the body of the late Jerusha was inside a well where the husband’s body was found too,” Odingo says.

Further, he notes police are still investigating the whereabouts of a house help who worked for the couple because she is also missing.

“For now, we are treating her as a missing person until we find her. The man will remain in our custody as we search for her and the murder weapon. The suspect appears to have cleaned the homestead thoroughly to cover his tracks,” Odingo says.

Shedding light on what had happened prior to the killing of the couple, family members revealed that tensions had been brewing in the homestead after Juma quarreled with the family’s house help, Pauline, with whom he was in a romantic relationship.

According to Machogus’ son, Chris Ayanda, Pauline had wanted to terminate a pregnancy, but Juma opposed the move and threatened violence.

“He told Pauline if she went ahead with the abortion, he would kill her. On Saturday, he came to my mother and told her Pauline went missing mysteriously,” Ayanda recalls.

Ayanda explained that the suspect first attacked his father with an axe, then turned on his mother when she rushed to intervene. And after killing them he threw them in the well and locked it.

Neighbours shockingly recount how Juma continued with his normal routines even after the killings.

“When we asked where the homeowners were, he claimed they had eaten supper and left for a journey. What sparked suspicion with us is that their phones were ringing in the house when we called. So, we started looking around the compound for them including the well where their bodies were recovered from, “says Gerald Bosire, a neighbour to the couple.

The family and neighbours now fear that the missing house help may also have been killed.

“Juma was left with Pauline's phone, yet claimed she went to the village. The investigation must be thorough because there are many unanswered questions,” Ayanda notes.

According to their son, the late Jerusha,70, was a retired teacher, while her husband,72 was a retired accountant.

“We only want Justice for our parents who were brutally murdered. The worker had only been working for us for two months. I do not know what made him do such a heinous act to my parents,” Ayanda says.