Detectives in Kianjathi, Mathira West have arrested a suspect in connection with the tragic death of a 9-year-old girl.
In a statement on Wednesday, February 11, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) confirmed the recovery of the child’s body and the arrest of a man believed to be responsible for the crime.
Investigators said the body of 9-year-old Shantel Waruguru Kagema was found inside a pit latrine in Kianjathi village, days after she reportedly went missing on February 8, 2026.
Suspect Arrested as Missing 9-Year-Old is Found in Pit Latrine. Photo: Courtesy.
According to detectives, Shantel had been left at home with her younger sibling on the morning she disappeared.
Her parents are said to have left the house at around 8:00am, leaving her with her 4-year-old sister.
However, when they returned later in the evening at about 6:30pm, they discovered she was nowhere to be seen, prompting a search that later led to the grim discovery.
Police were alerted, sparking a search operation in the area that led officers to an abandoned house nearby, where they recovered clothing and shoes later identified as Shantel’s.
Crime Scene Investigations officers processed the scene and collected the items as exhibits.
As investigations intensified, detectives tracked down a suspect, Peter Njuguna, who was arrested and is said to have led officers to the spot where the girl’s body was recovered.
With the help of local residents, police retrieved the body and moved it to a mortuary pending further examination.
The DCI said preliminary findings indicate the suspect, who lives nearby, allegedly lured Shantel’s younger sister away from the home by giving her Sh10 to buy sweets, leaving the 9-year-old alone in the house.
Investigators believe he then committed the crime before disposing of the child’s body in a pit latrine.
The suspect was later presented in court, where detectives requested additional time to complete investigations.
