By JOB WERU
Nyeri County: The chilling cases of abductions in Mt Kenya region went a notch higher after an assistant chief was kidnapped on Wednesday night from her home in Solio Squatter Settlement Scheme.
Pauline Nyambura Mathenge, 40, was reportedly picked by at least six men from her house in Rehema village in the settlement scheme established in 2009.
Mathenge is said to have been heading to sleep when she was abducted.
A villager, David Karanja Kamotho, who was with the chief before the incident took place told journalists that he spotted a white vehicle at DEB Solio Ranch Primary School as he left her homestead at around 10.30pm.
“I met the chief in her house for some Bible study and other issues, and when leaving at around 10.30pm, I spotted a white vehicle parked at the gate. It did not occur to me that they were up for a criminal activity,” said Kamotho.
Kieni OCPD Ancent Kaloki said the abductors called the victim’s husband yesterday morning and demanded Sh2 million ransom to release her.
The abduction came hours after residents of Kerugoya town interred the body of businessman Cyrus Munene Mwenje, who was abducted and killed a week ago.
Mwenje’s body was found dumped on the roadside in Nguka village within the expansive Mwea Irrigation Scheme.
The abductors reportedly demanded that his family sends Sh2 million ransom, but the body was found even before they could send all the money.
It also occurred barely two weeks after Murang’a County Commissioner Ms Kula Hache announced that a Deputy County Commissioner in Murang’a had received threats on his life following his fight against abductions in the area.
In yesterday’s incident, neighbours said they were informed that Mathenge was picked by six men clad in black, and they suspected that she could have been wooed out of her house by a person she knew.
Kamotho said moments before he left her residence, she told him that she had spotted suspicious people next to her compound the previous night.
Police visited her compound where tens of villagers had also flocked.
