The body of James Macharia Waitherero, a 26-year-old recent National Youth Service (NYS) graduate from Karira village in Mwea, Kirinyaga County, was discovered in a mortuary by his family, with his motorcycle missing.

His uncle, Simon Wanjohi Kariu, reported that James went missing on Saturday night, prompting a search by the family.

Waitherero’s mother, Louise Waitherera, revealed that her son had borrowed a motorcycle from a friend to go to Ngurubani but did not return as expected.

Teresiah Wanjiru, the deceased’s aunt, recounted, “His friend informed me that Waitherero received a call from unknown individuals while he was at a local bar but didn’t come back. We later found his body at the Kerugoya mortuary. It’s a tragic situation.”

Pastor Elijah Githuku, another uncle of the deceased, recounted that the deceased’s friend had bought the motorcycle on loan and was nearing the end of his payments, before it was stolen and Waitherero found dead.

“We urge the police to investigate this matter thoroughly, as we have already reported it to the Kiamaciri police station,” Githuku added.

Simon Wanjohi, a relative who visited Kimbimbi Sub-County Hospital, explained that the family was informed that Waitherero had been brought to the hospital unconscious by unknown individuals on Saturday night. He was subsequently transferred to Kerugoya Hospital by ambulance, where he later passed away.

“We were told that the individuals who brought him to Kimbimbi Hospital disappeared afterward,” he said.