By Andrew Mbuva
A 23-year-old man accused of murdering his wife and their two young children in Kathiani, Machakos County, has been remanded after a Machakos court granted police five more days to complete investigations into the shocking case.
Amos Nyingi Wambua was arraigned before Senior Principal Magistrate Betty Koech on Monday but did not take a plea after the prosecution successfully applied for additional time to conclude investigations.
The court allowed the application and ordered that the suspect be held at Kathiani Police Station until Monday, July 27, 2026, when he will be returned to court for further directions.
According to investigators, Wambua is suspected of killing his wife and the couple's two children on June 14, 2026, before allegedly dumping their bodies in a thicket at Kaseveni Village in Kithia Sub-location, Kaewa Location, Kathiani Sub-county.
The gruesome incident came to light after residents reportedly spotted a dog carrying what appeared to be a child's human limb. Curious and alarmed, they followed the animal into a nearby thicket, where they were confronted by a strong foul smell.
Their search led to the discovery of decomposing human remains believed to belong to two adults. A human skull, suspected to have been at the site for a much longer period, was also recovered, raising fears that additional victims could have been dumped in the area.
The horrifying discovery prompted police to launch investigations into the killings.
Kathiani Sub-county Police Commander George Kashimiri confirmed the incident and dismissed claims circulating on social media that the bodies had been dissolved using acid. He explained that the advanced state of decomposition was a result of prolonged exposure to the prevailing heat.
Kashimiri noted that the secluded location where the bodies were found is rarely accessed by members of the public, suggesting the crime may have been carefully planned by someone familiar with the area.
He also urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious vehicles or activities, saying such information could assist police in uncovering other possible crimes.
Residents have expressed fears that more bodies could be hidden in the thicket and have called for an extensive search of the area. Some also suspect the killings may have stemmed from a family dispute, although police say investigations are still ongoing and no motive has been established.
The suspect was arrested in Mashuru, Kajiado County, where he had reportedly sought work as a farmhand after the alleged murders.
Police say investigations are continuing as detectives work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the deaths before the case proceeds to plea..
