Second postmortem as police probe murder of teacher, journalist

Johnson Nyakundi and Maureen Monchali. Both were found dead in their houses, with police marking them as homicide cases. [File, Standard]

Police in Kisii have said they will carry out further investigations in the murders of a teacher and a journalist.

Johnson Nyakundi, a television cameraman, was found dead in his house at Jogoo estate on January 1.

Maureen Monchali, a high school teacher, was also found dead in her house at Kenyanya market on January 3.

Both bodies were decomposing.

Mr Nyakundi was said to have gone missing on December 23, while Ms Monchali went missing on December 26.

Nyakundi's autopsy was conducted at the Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital by Benjamin Nambuye.

Manual strangulation

It was witnessed by detectives and two family members. The cause of death was listed as asphyxia from manual strangulation.

Kisii County Police Coordinator Benard Muli told The Standard that the matter was complicated owing to the fact that police officers found the door of the deceased’s house closed from inside when they went to retrieve the body.

“We will have to conduct another postmortem examination. We will revisit the case and find out how the alleged killers got access to the house,” said Mr Muli.

Nyakundi’s family said it planned to bury him on Thursday at his home in Ogembo.

Ms Monchali will be buried on Wednesday at her parents’ home.

Yesterday, Kenyenya OCPD Isaac Thuranira said Monchali's landlord, Maria Kemuma, reported her missing.

Skull injury

The 28-year-old was a teacher at Kenyoro PAG Secondary School. Her body was found lying on the kitchen floor with blood oozing from the mouth.

“Initially we thought it was a case of suicide but after the postmortem, we discovered that there were injuries on her skull,” said Mr Thuranira.