A man suspected of murdering seven-year-old Tamara Blessing Kabura was on Tuesday arraigned in Nyeri as investigations into the gruesome killing continue.

Mr Nicholas Macharia appeared virtually before Nyeri Senior Principal Magistrate Faith Munyi, where the prosecution requested that he be detained for 14 days at Nyeri Central Police Station to allow for further investigations.

Mr Macharia did not oppose the application, and the magistrate granted the request, ordering that he remain in custody until June 10, when he will be presented in court again.

The murder has sparked widespread outrage in Nyeri town.

On Monday, tension escalated after angry residents stormed Nyeri Central Police Station, demanding the release of the suspect from custody.

Mr Macharia is alleged to have lured the child to his rented home in the Witemere informal settlement, where he reportedly defiled and killed her before burying her body under his bed.

Acting on a tip-off, residents exhumed the girl's body and carried it to the police station.

A confrontation ensued as they demanded to lynch the suspect.

The protest turned chaotic, with demonstrators pelting the station with stones and lighting bonfires along nearby streets.

Police responded by firing tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Tamara’s body was later taken to the Nyeri County Referral Hospital mortuary.

Police say Mr Macharia works as a porter at the Nyeri open-air market.

Tamara was last seen around 6pm on Saturday while playing at the market where her mother, Susan Wanjiru, and grandmother, Jane Kabura, are traders.

Speaking to the press, Ms Wanjiru described the suspect’s deceptive behaviour during the search.

“He was with us, actively helping to look for her. Little did we know he was the one behind it,” Ms Wanjiru said.

CCTV footage obtained from buildings around the market showed Mr Macharia walking with the girl toward Witemere informal settlement, a lead that proved vital to the investigation.

Local business owners provided the footage to police.

Tamara’s grandmother, Ms Kabura, expressed disbelief and grief.

“I can’t believe Mr Macharia would do something so cruel to my granddaughter. We demand justice,” she said.

Nyeri Town MP Maina Mathenge condemned the murder and urged residents to remain calm.

“I thank the business community for sharing the CCTV footage with the police. Let us now allow the Law to take its course,” he said.

Detectives recovered a hoe and spade from under the suspect’s bed, believed to have been used in the burial.

As the case continues to draw national attention, residents and relatives of the deceased are calling for swift and decisive justice.