Autopsy reveals Nakuru trader Veronica Kanini died of strangulation

Nakuru-based trader Veronica Kanini died of strangulation, a post-mortem has revealed.    

Dr Biken George, who conducted the autopsy at the PNN funeral services on Thursday afternoon reported that Kanini’s right side of the chest had trauma.

 “As a result of my examination I have formed the opinion that the cause of death was Asphyxia due to strangulation,” said Dr George.

The autopsy was conducted in the presence of the deceased’s elder sister Bernadette Mueni.

The badly decomposed body of the 42-year-old businesswoman was discovered in a shallow grave on the banks of Molo River in Mogotio, Baringo County, on Tuesday just a few kilometers from Mogotio Police station.

Ms Kanini left her home in Mawanga Estate on the morning of November 12 for Mogotio market. The family wants the police to conduct thorough investigations and arrest all the culprits.  

Kanini’s widower Mariko Njuguna suspects that the man who is in police custody was in company of others who are still at large.

 “We are grateful to the officers from Mogotio Police Station for helping us to trace my wife. However, we feel that whoever killed her did not do this alone,” said Mr Njuguna.

Kanini’s daughter Rahab Wanjiru said her mother was in a jovial mood when she left home on November 12, 2021.   

Mr Njuguna, had earlier told Nation.Africa that his wife had made a distress call to a family friend. She is said to have asked for Sh3,000, saying that she had been admitted to a hospital in Mogotio in critical condition.

However, she later told her husband that the money was meant to secure her freedom, but did not divulge the details.

Her phone was, however, switched off soon after the money was sent. Mr Njuguna then reported the matter at the Nakuru Central Police station before he was referred to Mogotio Police station.

On Tuesday, Mogotio Sub-County DCI boss Luka Tumbo said that they arrested the recipient of the money from Ms Kanini.  

Mr Tumbo said the suspect Mose Kipchirchir who was found in possession of the deceased’s phone, was arrested on November 13.

Mr Mose Kipchirchir the prime suspect was arraigned on November 15 when the court granted their request to detain him for 14 days to complete investigations.

"We tried to question the suspect during the entire period but he gave us no information. It was not until November 23 that the suspect confessed to killing Ms Kanini," said Mr Tumbo.

On Tuesday evening, Kipchirchir led detectives to Molo River where Ms Kanini's body was found in a shallow grave. The two are said to have spent some time at the river bank before the latter was reportedly killed.

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