Shock and grief have engulfed Kiritiri in Mbeere South Constituency after a 27-year-old woman died following a horrifying acid attack carried out by unknown assailants on Saturday morning, May 16, 2026.

The victim, identified as Jackline Wanjiru, was on her way to Kiritiri Market to conduct her daily miraa business when she was attacked by men riding on another motorcycle.

According to witnesses and family members, Wanjiru had left her home at around 5:30 a.m. aboard a boda boda operated by John Juma, a rider who had routinely ferried her to work every morning.

Juma narrated that the journey had barely begun when another motorcycle suddenly emerged behind them just a few metres from where they had started. “All seemed normal. I thought they were just in a hurry to pass,” Juma recalled.

He said he slowed down and gave way to the motorcycle to overtake. Moments later, the attackers slowed beside them before one of the passengers hurled a corrosive substance believed to be acid directly at Wanjiru using a bucket.

“The acid splashed on her and also landed on my back. Immediately, we lost control of the motorcycle and fell into a ditch,” he said.

Juma said the scene quickly turned chaotic as Wanjiru screamed in pain while her clothes burned from the powerful chemical. He too suffered severe burns, forcing him to remove his clothes in desperation.

“She was crying for help. Her clothes had already been burned by the acid. I was also burning badly,” he recounted.

The distress call

Residents who heard the distress screams rushed to the scene and found the two victims writhing in pain.

Neighbours quickly organised emergency transport and rushed them to a nearby hospital before Wanjiru and her driver were referred to Embu Level Five Hospital due to the severity of their injuries.

Despite efforts by doctors, Wanjiru succumbed to extensive burns affecting her face, chest, and lower body while receiving treatment at the facility.

Juma, who sustained burns on his hands and the back of his head, survived the attack and is currently in stable condition as he continues to receive treatment at Embu level 5 hospital.

The attackers

The boda boda rider revealed that the attackers had concealed their identities using face masks and hoods, making it difficult to identify them. He described the incident as sudden and well-coordinated, saying the victims had no chance to escape.

The death of Wanjiru, a mother of one, has left her family devastated, with relatives describing the attack as cruel, inhumane, and deeply disturbing.

“We want justice for our daughter. Whoever did this must be arrested and punished,” Patricia Ndegi one family member said amid emotional scenes at the hospital.

Police have since launched investigations into the incident as detectives seek to establish the motive behind the attack and trace the suspects behind the brutal killing that has shaken the Kiritiri community.