Nakuru M-Pesa Attendant Found Dead After Week-Long Search

The week-long search for Hannah Waithera, a 23-year-old M-Pesa attendant reported missing on May 21, has ended tragically with the discovery of her body at the Nakuru City mortuary. 

Waithera was last seen leaving her workplace on Kenyatta Avenue in Nakuru town to deposit money at a local bank. The discovery comes after an intensive search initiated by Waithera's family, who visited numerous police stations in Nakuru, including Kaptembwa Police Station, where they distributed her photograph in hopes of generating leads. 

On May 26, police informed the family that a severely decomposed body of a female had been found on a farm in Nakuru West Sub-County. The body was subsequently identified as Waithera's. The grim discovery was prompted by area residents reporting a strong odour emanating from the farm, which led the farm's management to notify the authorities. 

Preliminary investigations suggest that Waithera was killed at an unknown location before her body was dumped at the farm. Samuel Muiruri, a relative of Waithera, describes the family's anguish during the search, recounting their efforts to place her photo on police notice boards and their dashed hopes of finding her alive. 

Waithera's mother, Mary Njeri, voices strong criticism of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), alleging mistreatment and a lack of adequate support during the critical search period. Nakuru West Sub County Police Commander Stephen Kirui has confirmed the body's advanced state of decomposition, complicating the immediate determination of injuries. Fingerprints were taken from the body to aid in identification, and with the family's confirmation, the investigation has now pivoted to determining the circumstances surrounding Waithera's death.

Commander Kirui emphasises the need for the family's cooperation in providing information that could help reconstruct the events leading up to Waithera's disappearance and death. He notes that a postmortem examination is scheduled to provide crucial details about the cause of death, which will guide the ongoing investigation.