Shock and grief have engulfed residents of Igoji East ward in South Imenti, Meru County, after a Grade 9 pupil was brutally raped and murdered during the Christmas festivities.
The body of the victim, identified as 14‑year‑old Betty Karendi, a learner at St. Jude Primary School, Igoji, was discovered by a Boda Boda rider at a secluded roadside near Igoji Teachers College.
Preliminary reports indicate that the minor was sexually assaulted, stripped naked, and strangled to death. Investigators believe multiple assailants may have been involved in the heinous act.
According to her mother, Betty had left home in the evening, saying she was heading to a Kesha service at the local Catholic Church. However, she was later spotted with friends at a popular garden and restaurant near the college before leaving in the company of unidentified individuals.
Residents reported hearing screams around midnight but assumed they were part of Christmas celebrations and did not respond. Police officers from Kieni Kia Ndege Police Station later arrived at the scene and moved the body to Kanyakine Hospital Mortuary, where it awaits post‑mortem examination.
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Authorities have confirmed that CCTV cameras are installed at the restaurant where Betty was last seen, though the footage has not yet been released. Investigators say the recordings will be critical in establishing her final movements and identifying those she left with.
A police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that initial findings point to the involvement of seven suspects, including a woman, in the incident.
By John Majau
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