Form Three student who killed 12-year-old cousin in Kirinyaga arrested in Ruaka

A 17-year-old Form Three student who went missing after killing his cousin, a Grade Seven pupil, on Friday night at Kagio in Kirinyaga County has been arrested.

According to Kirinyaga Police Commander Andrew Naibei, the Gathuthiini Secondary School student was nabbed at his uncle’s home in Ruaka, Kiambu County, on Saturday morning.

“The boy thought that his uncle was not aware he had killed his cousin at Kagio, and that is when he (uncle) informed the authorities and the boy was arrested,” said the police boss.

According to family members, after the boy arrived in Ruaka, he quietly confessed to his uncle that he had killed his cousin, a pupil at Rwang'ondu Primary School, and then afterwards “sold my bicycle to get fare to come and kill my grandmother.”

The boy committed the act under unclear circumstances after he was left with his cousin – who was doing her homework - in their family home, while the girl's mother went to the market.

Pauline Wairimu, the deceased’s mother, who is a teacher at Rwang'ondu Primary School, regrets asking for the boy to come and stay with her since he goes to school in Kirinyaga.

“I didn't think my sister's child would kill my daughter, who was very much in school and church,” a devastated Wairimu said.

Naibei said the boy is expected to be transferred to Kirinyaga from Kiambu on Saturday where he will be held at Kiamaciri Police Station before being taken to court to face murder charges.