Two prison warders have been arrested in connection with the rape and murder of their colleague, Caroline Chesire.
The autopsy of the 25-year old body confirmed that she was brutally raped and strangled to death.
The body of 25-year-old Chesire was found dumped in a bush in Githiolo village, Subukia sub-county. Police said the body had stab wounds in the chest and appeared to have been hit with a blunt object on the forehead.
On Wednesday, investigators received information that a body suspected to be of the officer was found dumped in a thicket and moved to Nyahururu hospital morgue.
Officers from Nakuru, together with Chesire’s family members, travelled to the morgue where they identified the body. It had injuries on the chest and head.
Investigators are treating her male colleagues aged 20 and 28 as prime suspects. Police are also holding a vehicle they believe was used to dump the body 43 kilometres away.
Interestingly, the three warders graduated at the same time from the Kenya Prisons Staff Training College, Ruiru and were posted to Nakuru in July, 2017.
Before she went missing, Jepchirchir was spotted with the two suspects, in entertainment joint within Nakuru town on April 2.
Her father, Chief Inspector of Police Micah Chesire, described his daughter as disciplined, caring and respectful.
He said his family was devastated by the news of her death. “We leave everything to God and we hope investigators are going to bring the culprits to book,” he said.
“I initially thought my daughter was on assignment after we spoke on the night she went missing. But her constant silent was worrying and was therefore forced to launch a complaint, only to receive heartbreaking news of her death,” said the devastated father.
He said Jepchirchir had a bright future and was expecting her to someday get married and bear children.
“My daughter had great plans about her life. She was hardworking and made me a proud father. It is unfortunate for her to have been killed at such a young age,” he said.
Officer-in-Charge of Women Prison Emily Momanyi described Caroline as a disciplined and respectful officer who got on well with everyone at the facility.
She said the officer went missing from April 3 and efforts to trace her were not successful because her phone was disconnected.