Written by Joyce Nzomo
What began as days of desperate searching has ended in heartbreak for a Maragua family. The body of Elizabeth Wamaitha, a 60-year-old grandmother who went missing on Sunday, was discovered four days later dumped in Mariiki Dam, Murang’a County.
For Wamaitha’s children, the grief is unbearable. Just months ago in April, her three-year-old granddaughter, also named Elizabeth was brutally defiled and murdered in the same area. The fresh killing has fueled fears that the family is being deliberately targeted.
Her daughter, Veronica Njeri, broke down as she pleaded for an end to the bloodshed.
“We are devastated. It feels like someone is targeting our family. We don’t know who we may have wronged, but we plead with them to come out and speak instead of killing our loved ones one by one,” she said through tears.
Her brother, Festus Mwangi, stood beside her, equally shaken by the inexplicable loss of their mother.
The killings have rattled residents of Maragua, who say violence against women and children has become all too common in the area.
“This is not the first time. Women and children here are being defiled, raped, and murdered, and the culprits go scot-free. We cannot continue living in fear like this!” said Margaret Wamaitha, a resident of Maragua town.
Another local, Charles Wachira, voiced frustration at the growing insecurity:
“If you are lucky to escape death, you don’t escape being hacked with knives and robbed. This insecurity is getting out of hand.”
Confirming the incident, Maragua Assistant County Commissioner Joshua Okello said investigators are looking into possible family disputes as a motive behind the killings.
“At this point, we suspect the deaths might be family-linked or connected to family issues. A postmortem will be carried out to establish the exact cause of death,” he said.
Community leaders have since urged authorities to step up patrols, improve surveillance around Mariiki Dam, and carry out thorough investigations to restore public confidence.
