Kirinyaga: Probe as man’s body found dumped in abandoned quarry

Residents of Mumbu and Rogoi villages in Murinduko Ward, Mwea East Sub-County, Kirinyaga County, are demanding answers following the discovery of the body of a 33-year-old man in an abandoned quarry.

The body of Isaac Gicobi, who had been missing since Saturday night, was discovered on Tuesday afternoon in a water-filled pit about three kilometres from his homestead and two kilometres from Mumbu village, along the Piai-Ngariama tarmac road.

According to his relatives, the decomposing body was discovered by children who were fishing in a nearby swamp after they noticed a foul smell coming from the water.

Gicobi's brother, John Muthike, and uncle, James Muriithi, said the family had been searching for him since he went missing.

“We have been looking for him since Saturday night and doing nothing else, only to be told today that he is here in this well,” Muthike said.

Muthike claimed his brother had suffered severe injuries to the head and that his eyes appeared to have been gouged out.

He said the family suspects Gicobi may have been killed elsewhere before his body was dumped in the quarry.

“My brother is not a thief. We want to know who killed him and why he was made to suffer a lot before being killed. We suspect he was killed elsewhere and dumped here,” he said.

Residents said the quarry was created after a land excavation exercise several years ago.

Jane Muthoni, a neighbour, said residents were shocked by the discovery, having joined the search for Gicobi after his disappearance.

“He is my neighbour and went missing on Saturday. We had been looking for him, only to discover him in this well. We wonder who killed Isaac and dumped him here,” she said.

Gicobi's workmates, Simon Ndwiga and Bundi Waweru, said they worked with him as casual labourers and miraa pickers.

Ndwiga, who struggled to hold back tears, said they had continued searching for Gicobi since Saturday night.

Police officers from Itangi Police Station retrieved the body and moved it to the mortuary.

Police have launched investigations into the circumstances surrounding Gicobi's death, including where and how he was killed and how his body ended up in the abandoned quarry.