Terror stalks villagers in Kiambu after girl, seven, disappears

By Wairimu Kamande

Kiambu County

Panic has gripped a village in Kiambu County following disappearance of two girls.

On Tuesday night, residents of Gati-Iguru village held protests after the disappearance of Virginia Wairimu, seven, earlier in the day.

It is the second disappearance of a minor to be reported in the past three weeks. The villagers were dispersed by police using teargas.

"We had planned to move into every house in search of the girl and wanted police protection. But instead, they came and dispersed us," said a resident, of the protests that ended in the wee hours of yesterday morning.

Wairimu’s grandmother, also named Virginia Wairimu, said the Standard One pupil had left school with other children who had been sent home by a teacher, but she never made it home.

The family fears she could have been abducted in a similar manner to another girl last month. In the earlier incident, Tabitha Njeri was reported to have disappeared as she returned home from visiting her grandmother.

The Standard Three pupil’s father, Samuel Kung’u, said the minor’s body was found three days later dumped under an orange tree, not far from their home.

Kimani said they had no clue of what had happened to the girl. He also revealed that the killers of the other girl were yet to be arrested.