Suspect arrested over brutal murder of 65-year-old grandmother in Meru

Solomon Kathurima Kairemia was arrested on September 21, 2026, following weeks of forensic analysis and intelligence-led investigations by detectives from the County Criminal Investigations Office and DCI Imenti North.

The investigations followed the death of Evelyne Mukiri Mbaabu, who was fatally attacked at her home on August 7.

According to police, Mbaabu was preparing supper with her 13-year-old grandson when an unknown man walked into the compound and headed to the kitchen, where he asked for drinking water.

The boy later heard his grandmother screaming for help and rushed to the kitchen, where he found her lying in a pool of blood. Police said the assailant then attacked the boy, striking him on the hand with a panga before fleeing the scene.

Mbaabu was rushed to Grace Park Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

Detectives said Kairemia had abandoned his house by the time they traced him and had been spending nights hiding in thickets a few metres from his residence. A blood-stained panga, which investigators believe may have been used in the attack, was recovered during his arrest and secured for further forensic examination.

Police said an identification parade was subsequently conducted, during which Kairemia was positively identified as the suspect.

He was later arraigned before the Meru Law Courts, where investigators obtained a 14-day custodial order to allow them to complete their investigations.

Detectives are continuing to probe the motive and the circumstances surrounding Mbaabu's death.