Uproar as another schoolgirl found murdered

 Kakamega Scheme Estate residents protest in Kakamega town after the body of six-year-old Faith Phoebe, a nursery schoolgirl, was found dumped yesterday. [Photo: Benjamin Sakwa/Standard]

Kakamega, Kenya: Residents of Kakamega town are reeling in shock following the macabre killing of a nursery schoolgirl whose body was dumped in the same spot where the remains of a 12-year-girl were found in July.

This is the third girl to be killed in Kakamega’s Scheme Estate this year.

When the body was discovered yesterday, residents protested against the police for failing to provide security.

The victim identified as Faith Phoebe, 6, a pupil of Bondeni Primary School, was last seen on Sunday morning playing with other children before she was reportedly picked up by an unidentified man.

The body was dumped in a trench with the arms bound using rubber strips.

According to police, the victim is suspected to have been strangled before being dumped in the trench.

“The girl left home on Sunday at around 9.30am with her friends and that is when I saw her last. I was later told by her friends that Faith had been called by a man who vanished with her,” said Consolata Ludenyi, the girl’s mother.

Ms Ludenyi said one of the children who was playing with her daughter had said she could positively identify the suspect.

“I was told the man wore a leather jacket, which appeared to be blood-stained, and we suspect he is a butcher. We appeal to police to help us identify him,” Ludenyi appealed.

Evans Barabara, the girl’s father, claimed police refused to launch a manhunt, saying they would wait 24 hours before they could officially take up the matter as a missing person’s case.

 24 HOURS

“I reported the matter to the police because I wanted them to begin a search as soon as possible given the circumstances of the disappearance. Police responded by saying my child could not be declared lost until 24 hours elapsed,” said Mr Barabara.

Kakamega OCPD Richard Ng’etich confirmed the incident and said police were waiting for a postmortem examination to determine the cause of death.

He explained the body had several visible bruises on the face and neck and said they suspected the girl was strangled.

“We are investigating and appeal to the public to co-operate with police and give any vital information that could lead to arrest of the culprits,” he said.

Residents are now demanding answers to who is targeting young girls in the town.

 

Led by Sheywe MCA Aggrey Waturasu, the residents claimed police had failed to offer security to the town’s residents.

“Whenever they storm a chang’aa drinking den, they do it with gusto and determination but when it comes to security, they do nothing. They have resorted to harassing innocent Kenyans, asking for bribes while criminals roam free,” said Mr Waturasu.

Marama West MCA Habil Nanjendo wondered why police had failed to arrest anyone in any of the murder cases reported in town.

Phoebe’s murder is the third this year targeting children in Kakamega town.

Early this year, Maurine Obilo, a six-year-old pre-unit pupil of Bridge Academy, disappeared without a trace on her way to school. Her body was found the following morning dumped in a trench in Scheme estate.

In July, the mutilated body of Deborah Akinyi, 12,  a Standard Seven pupil of Nabongo Primary School, was found in the same area.