Authorities are investigating two separate deaths reported in Machakos and Nyandarua counties, both under suspicious and troubling circumstances.
In Tala, Matungulu Sub-County, Machakos, detectives have launched a manhunt for a suspect believed to have killed another man in a suspected crime of passion before setting his body on fire and fleeing the scene.
The incident came to light on the evening of July 11, 2025, when a 50-year-old resident of Kwamatingi village notified police officers at Tala Police Station about the discovery. Officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) units in Kangundo and Matungulu responded to the call and arrived at the scene, where they found the victim’s body lying by the roadside with signs of brutal assault and severe burns.
A preliminary police report indicates the deceased suffered head trauma and injuries to both arms and legs. Significant burn marks were also observed on the body, suggesting an attempt to destroy evidence.
Investigators believe the attack was triggered by a domestic confrontation, after the suspect allegedly found the victim purchasing vegetables from the suspect’s wife. What began as a verbal altercation is thought to have escalated into fatal violence, after which the suspect reportedly poured petroleum on the body and set it ablaze before disappearing.
The deceased’s body has been taken to Kangundo Level Four Hospital morgue, where an autopsy will be conducted. Police have confirmed that efforts to locate and apprehend the suspect are ongoing.
Meanwhile, in Nyandarua County, a separate investigation is underway after the body of a 34-year-old man was discovered along a roadside in the Muireri area of Kiambaga Location.
Officers from Olkalou Police Station and the Nyandarua Central DCI visited the scene after being alerted at approximately 9:38 a.m. The body, later identified through a national ID card found in the victim’s trouser pocket as Joshua Muiruri Karanji, was found lying face-up with white foam emanating from the mouth.
Police noted that no visible physical injuries were present on the body, suggesting a possible case of poisoning or a medical emergency. The scene was processed by investigators, and the body was transferred to JM Kariuki Hospital mortuary for a postmortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.
Detectives from Nyandarua Central DCI have taken over the probe and are pursuing leads to establish the circumstances surrounding Karanji’s death.
Both incidents have added to growing public concern over rising cases of unexplained deaths and violence, even as investigations continue.
