Five killed as rapist targets women who live alone

Five people have died as two women were raped in a crime spree that has baffled residents and the police.

Two of the killings happened over the weekend, when two other people are reported to have committed suicide.

In the latest killing, a 70-year-old woman was found dead in her house in Kabendera Location, Kieni West. Neighbours found the lifeless body of the elderly woman in her house on Monday afternoon after noticing that she had not left her house all day.

“Detectives are working to reveal the motive behind the killing and the people who might have been involved,” said County Police Commander Eunice Kihiko.

(READ: Women take on Nyeri rape gang)

On Saturday, a 38-year-old matatu tout was found brutally murdered close to a terminus in Naromoru Town.

The body of the man, identified as Grishon Wambugu, was found at 11 pm by business people. It had a deep cut in the face.

TWO COMITTED SUICIDE

A middle-aged man who was found dead outside an entertainment joint in Nyeri Town, next to a matatu terminus, has not been identified and the cause of death remains a mystery. The other two committed suicide.

Police are also in pursuit of a serial rapist, who is alleged to have sexually assaulted up to eight women in Ngangarithi Estate.

Although the police said two women had been raped, the residents insisted that the number of victims was eight.

The man, said to be in his thirties, is known to dress up as a woman. He then picks the locks of a house before raping the occupant. Police reports say there is no sign of forced entry into any of the houses.

According to residents who spoke to the Nation on condition of anonymity, the sex predator marks out houses of women who live alone.

“Only two women have reported to us and medical results showed they were raped,” said Nyeri OCPD Maasai Makau. “We have identified him and a manhunt is on.”