Nyeri: Governor Mutahi Kahiga has called on investigators to fast-track investigations and ensure swift justice for the family of nine-year-old Shantel Waruguru Kagema, whose body was recovered from a pit latrine in Kianjathi village, Mathira West. Detectives from Mathira West retrieved the minor’s lifeless body from a freshly dug pit latrine on Tuesday, days after she was reported missing on February 8, 2026. The shocking discovery has sparked outrage and grief across Nyeri County.
According to Kenya News Agency, a 35-year-old man identified as Peter Njuguna, who is said to be an uncle to the girl and a prime suspect in the killing, has been arrested and is in police custody as investigations continue. Governor Kahiga described the incident as heart-wrenching and raised concern over a rise in cases of violence against children in the county. He pledged his administration’s support to security agencies to ensure perpetrators of such crimes face the full force of the law.
Governor Kahiga expressed his condolences on his official Facebook page, urging law enforcers to ensure a conviction is obtained and that the suspect faces the full force of the law. He noted that these acts of defiling young girls are becoming too common and emphasized the need for quick dispensation of justice.
The governor also referred to the county’s ongoing recovery from the murder of seven-year-old Tamara in May 2025. In that case, the suspect, Nicholas Julius Macharia, allegedly defiled, strangled, and buried the child inside his rented house in Witemere slums. The suspect remains in custody awaiting a court ruling.
Preliminary investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) revealed that Shantel’s parents left her at home with her four-year-old sister on the morning of her disappearance. Upon returning at around 6:30 p.m., they found her missing and immediately alerted police. An extensive search led to the discovery of disturbing clues in an abandoned house nearby, including undergarments and shoes later identified by the family.
Investigators established that on the day of the incident, the suspect allegedly gave Shantel’s younger sister money to buy sweets, leaving the victim alone. Mathira West Sub-County Police Commander Pixley Musyoki stated that detectives at the scene identified Njuguna as the last person seen with the minor.
“We are currently treating Peter Njuguna as our prime suspect since he was the last person seen in the company of the slain girl,” said Musyoki. “We have recovered the girl’s undergarments and those of the suspect and forwarded them to Nairobi for forensic analysis.” He added that police sought to detain the suspect for 21 days to complete investigations, but the court directed a trial within two weeks.
Musyoki disclosed that the suspect is being held at a secure location within Nyeri for safety reasons due to rising public anger over the incident. The tragic death has reignited debate over child protection and the need for heightened vigilance within communities. Leaders and residents have called for stronger enforcement of laws protecting children and faster prosecution of cases involving gender-based and sexual violence.
As investigations continue, residents of Mathira West and the larger Nyeri County remain united in grief, demanding justice for Shantel and renewed commitment to safeguarding children from violence.
Source: Kenya News Agency
