Shock as residents discover beheaded body near river

Nyandarua deputy governor Waithaka Mwangi Kirika. [PHOTO: JAMES MUNYEKI/STANDARD]

Nyandarua; Kenya: Residents of Kinangop are in shock after discovering a beheaded body dumped near a river.

The body of a middle-aged man was found near Matundara river along the Kirima-Engineer road by the public who informed the police.

Emotions ran high during the weekend incident as security officers moved in to retrieve the body whose head had been severed off.

Although the head was found next to the body, residents could not identity the victim as it emerged that he could have been killed elsewhere and dumped on scene.

Nyandarua Deputy Governor, Waithaka Mwangi who was among the first on the scene, condemned the murder terming it beastly.

He said the victim did not have any documents suggesting the killers had cleaned his pockets before dumping the body.

"We are shocked by this gruesome murder and call on the police to hunt down those behind this heinous act," said Waithaka.

Nyandarua South OCPD, Samson Munyao said the man could have been murdered elsewhere and the body dumped in the river.

Munyao said they had collected the victim's finger prints and sent them to the registrar of persons for identification.

HELD HOSTAGE

"The body has been taken to the Naivasha mortuary and we are asking residents whose kin is missing to liaise with us," he said.

Meanwhile, there was drama in Gilgil town after a witchdoctor who had been paid to help track some goat thieves was held hostage by residents after his 'magic' failed to work.

Irate victims of the robbery held him hostage for hours demanding a refund.

Trouble started on Friday after unknown people stole three goats belonging to a local trader forcing him to seek the help of the sorcerer.

A witness, Samson Kimani said the sorcerer demanded Sh8,000 saying the thieves would come out eating grass.

"The trader and his neighbours waited for the suspects to come out but this didn't happen," he said.

The sorcerer was forced to pay back the cash.