Detectives in Mathira West have arrested a suspect following the tragic discovery of the body of a 9-year-old girl who had been reported missing in Kianjathi village, Nyeri County.
The body of Shantel Waruguru Kagema was retrieved from a pit latrine after an intensive search by police, days after she mysteriously disappeared from her home on February 8, 2026.
According to police reports, Shantel’s parents left home at around 8:00 a.m., leaving her behind with her 4-year-old sister. When they returned at approximately 6:30 p.m., they were shocked to find Shantel missing.
The family immediately reported the matter to the police, triggering a joint search involving detectives and members of the public.
The search led investigators to an abandoned house near the family home, where they recovered a pair of undergarments and shoes placed on an old blue mattress. Shantel’s mother later identified the items as belonging to her daughter.
Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) officers processed the scene and collected the items as exhibits to aid ongoing investigations.
Following intelligence-led operations, detectives arrested Peter Njuguna, a man said to be a neighbour to the victim’s family.
During interrogation, the suspect allegedly confessed and led officers to his pit latrine, where Shantel’s body had been hidden.
With the help of local residents, detectives retrieved the body and transferred it to the mortuary, where it is being preserved pending a post-mortem examination.
Preliminary investigations revealed that on the day Shantel went missing, the suspect allegedly lured her younger sister away by giving her Sh10 to buy sweets, leaving Shantel alone in the house.
Police believe the suspect then committed a heinous act against the minor before disposing of her body in the pit latrine in an attempt to conceal the crime.
The suspect was arraigned in court on Monday, where investigators successfully obtained a 21-day custodial order to allow for further investigations as police finalize the case. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) condemned the killing, terming it a brutal crime against an innocent child and a grave threat to community safety.
Authorities reiterated their commitment to protecting children and urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant, as investigations continue.
The tragic death of Shantel Waruguru Kagema has sent shockwaves through Kianjathi village and beyond, renewing calls for stronger community vigilance and swift justice for crimes against children.
