Post-mortem reveals how murdered Nakuru businesswoman died

A post-mortem on the remains of a Nakuru-based trader Veronica Kanini, who had been missing for 11 days before her body was found dumped in Molo, revealed that she died of strangulation.

Dr Biken George, who conducted the autopsy at PNN Funeral Home on Thursday afternoon, reported that the right side of her chest also showed signs of trauma.

“As a result of my examination, I have formed the opinion that the cause of death was asphyxia due to strangulation with right-sided blunt chest trauma...She was strangled to death,” noted the pathologist.

The procedure was conducted in the presence of her elder sister Benadet Mueni and Ms Kanini’s daughter.

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

The body had decomposed so badly that the family only identified her by the yellow sweater she was wearing on November 12, the day she disappeared.

Ms Kanini left her home in Mawanga estate on the morning of November 12 for the Mogotio market, where she had been operating for three years.

Speedy investigations

The family now wants detectives to conduct speedy investigations into the killing.

Her husband Mariko Njuguna said they suspected the man who is in police custody had accomplices who are still at large.

“We are grateful to the officers from Mogotio Police Station for helping us to trace my wife. However, we have a strong feeling that whoever killed her did not do this alone, he must have had accomplices,” Mr Njuguna said.

Their first-born daughter Rahab Wanjiru said her mother was in a jovial mood when she left that morning, adding that she had no sign of trouble.

Mr Njuguna had earlier told the Nation that his wife made a distress call to a family friend requesting Sh3,000 and saying she had been admitted to a hospital in Mogotio in a 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 switched off after the money was sent. Mr Njuguna then reported the matter at the Nakuru Central Police Station before he was referred to the Mogotio Police Station.

One person arrested

On Tuesday, Mogotio Sub-County DCI boss Luka Tumbo said police arrested the person who received the money from Ms Kanini immediately after her husband sent it.

Mr Tumbo said the suspect, in his early 30s, was arrested on November 13 after the police tracked him and found him with Ms Kanini’s phone.

Mr Mose Kipchirchir, the prime suspect, was arraigned on November 15. Police were allowed to detain him for 14 days as they investigated the killing.

"We tried to question the suspect during the entire period but he gave us no information. It was not until the evening of November 23 that the suspect told us he had killed her," Mr Tumbo said.

On Tuesday evening, the suspect led detectives to the Molo River, where Ms Kanini's body was found in a shallow grave.

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