Bodies of three women found at a home in Matathia village, Thika East

Police retrieve bodies of three women found at a home in Kiambu on Wednesday, December 13, 2023. [Gitau Wanyoike, Standard]

Shock and grief have engulfed residents of Matathia village in Ngoliba Ward, Thika East in Kiambu County.

This is after the bodies of three women were found in their home.

The three, an old woman identified as Peninah Wairimu Ngugi, 87, her daughter Pauline Njeri, 50, and a close relative are suspected to have been killed on Friday night by unknown attackers.

Two of the bodies were discovered inside their newly built house while the third who had been beheaded was buried in a shallow grave a few meters from the house.

Outside the house, two knives suspected to have been used to stab the three were found by sleuths who, accompanied by scene of crime officers, appeared at the scene on Wednesday evening.

Kahoro Mbogo, a neighbour, told journalists that the three had gone missing for three days prompting a search by villagers.

He said that upon breaking into the deceased's homestead they were met with swarms of flies at house's the door and windows.

The badly mutilated body of the third victim was found in a shallow grave in the farm.

Villagers said that the family was a peaceful one and they only settled in the village about three years ago.

According to Mbogo, the family members have been collecting milk from his farm but they did not pick any milk from Saturday, signalling a possibility of them having been murdered earlier.

The family is reported to have disposed of a property in Ruiru raising suspicions that the attackers might have been after money.

At the home, police yesterday hinted that the attackers may have broken into the house using the newly put-up main gate before they proceeded to attack the three.

Thika East police commander Andrew Sora told journalists that police were pursuing crucial leads to arrest one of the suspects believed to have been behind the brutal murder.

Residents called on police in the area to intensify patrols to facilitate the continuity of their 24-hour economic activities.

The bodies of the three were rushed to Thika's general Kago mortuary for preservation.