Outrage in Nyeri as residents demand justice for murdered girl

Tension gripped Nyeri town on Monday afternoon after enraged residents stormed Nyeri Central Police Station, demanding the release of a suspect alleged to have brutally murdered a seven-year-old girl.

The suspect, identified as Nick Macharia, is accused of luring the girl to his rented house in the Kiawara slums on Saturday, where he reportedly defiled and murdered her. He then allegedly buried the body beneath his bed.

Residents, acting on a tip-off, exhumed the child’s body from the suspect’s house and carried it to the police station, where they clashed with officers while demanding to lynch the suspect.

The protest quickly escalated, with residents pelting the station with stones and lighting bonfires in various streets.

Police responded by firing tear gas to disperse the crowd.

The victim’s body was later moved to the Nyeri County Referral Hospital mortuary.

According to police sources, Mr Macharia works as a porter at Nyeri town’s open-air market.

The deceased, Tamara Blessing, went missing around 6pm on Saturday while playing at the market where her mother, Susan Wanjiru, and grandmother, Jane Kabura, work as traders.

Speaking to the media, a grief-stricken Ms Wanjiru recounted how the suspect pretended to help in 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 amid sobs.

CCTV footage from buildings around the market showed the suspect walking with the girl towards Kiawara slums.

This footage, provided by local business owners, proved crucial in the investigation.

Ms Kabura, the girl’s grandmother, said she was in shock.

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

Nyeri Town MP Maina Mathenge condemned the incident and urged calm among residents.

“I thank the business community for sharing the CCTV footage with police. Let's allow the law to take its course,” Mr Mathenge said.

Police recovered a jembe--hoe--and a spade beneath the suspect’s bed, believed to have been used in the burial.

Investigations into the gruesome incident are ongoing.