Residents of Kahiro village in Kirinyaga County were shocked after the body of a 60-year-old woman was recovered from a coffee plantation on Saturday January 27.

The old woman was killed by unknown people who dumped her body about 500 metres away from her home.

According to Karia Sub-location Assistant Chief Joseph Muriithi Githinji , nothing was stolen from the victim, identified as Esther Wambui Muthike as she had Ksh1500 still in her pocket.

Githinji reported that the woman was murdered while on her way home  from a Kaharo trading centre.

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“I was informed by my two elders and came here immediately and saw the lifeless body of a Wambui whom I know well,” Muriithi told news reporters.

“The suspects wanted only to kill because even her Ksh.1500 is still in her pocket,” he added. 

Additionally, the deceased’s sister Mary Wamwirua noted that they were informed about her death  by a neighbour who was collecting firewood in the coffee plantation.

“I was shocked to see my sister Wambui killed and the cabbages she went to buy scattered,” Wamwirua said.

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Meanwhile, area residents condemned the killing, adding that several similar killings had been reported in the area. 

However, the assistant chief urged residents to remain calm and give information to the police to help in the investigations. 

Police removed the body from the crime scene and took it to Kerugoya Hospital mortuary awaiting post mortem.

The incident was also confirmed by Ndia Sub-County police commander Moses Koskei who explained that officers have launched investigations into the matter.

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This comes at a time when several women have been killed in unclear circumstances in different parts of the country.

For instance, on Saturday January 27, several leaders and members of civil society groups held protests in Nairobi and other towns to condemn femicide cases.