Police appeal for information after murder of 3-year-old girl in Laikipia
By Wanjira Wachira, June 21, 2026Police in Laikipia County have launched investigations into the murder of a three-and-a-half-year-old girl whose body was discovered in Solio Village Seven, Laikipia Central Sub-county, in an incident that has shocked residents and sparked calls for justice.
The victim, identified as Vanessa Nkirote, was reported missing on Sunday before her body was later found concealed inside a sack in a room near a residential compound, according to police.
Laikipia Central OCPD Samuel Okede confirmed the incident on Sunday, June 21, 2026, saying detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had commenced investigations to establish the circumstances surrounding the child’s death and identify those responsible.
Preliminary report
According to the police report, the incident was reported at 6:10 p.m. under Occurrence Book (OB) Number 05/21/06/2026 by area chief Mazingira. Officers from Matanya Police Station, led by the Officer Commanding Station (OCS), together with detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Laikipia Central Sub-county, responded to the report and visited the scene.
Police said preliminary investigations established that the child had allegedly been lured away from a church service by three unidentified individuals.
“It was established that unknown people, three in number, had lured one female minor, namely Vanessa Nkirote, aged three and a half years, from church to their home, which is around 600 metres away,” the police report shared by OCPD Samuel Okede read.
Investigators believe the child was later killed before her body was concealed.
“She was killed and put in a sack, and dumped in a room near their gate used as a kiosk,” the report added.
According to police, the victim’s elder sister, identified as Cynthia Wanjiku, became concerned after Vanessa could not be found and went searching for her. During the search, she reportedly arrived at the compound where investigators believe the child had been taken.
The series of events before the final breath
Police said the girl encountered three men at the compound who allegedly threatened her, forcing her to flee.
“Her elder sister, Cynthia Wanjiku, who went to their home, unexpectedly found three men in the compound who threatened to harm her. She ran back to church and informed her parents,” the police report states.
The information prompted an immediate search by family members and residents, eventually leading to the discovery of the child’s body.
Officers secured and documented the scene before the body was moved to Nanyuki Referral Hospital Mortuary pending a post-mortem examination.
Crime scene investigators documented the scene before the body was moved to Nanyuki Referral Hospital Mortuary for a post-mortem examination.
Police said the body had visible injuries that are expected to be crucial to the ongoing investigations.
“The body was taken to Nanyuki Referral Hospital, awaiting post-mortem examination,” the report stated.
OCPD Okede said detectives are pursuing several leads and appealed to members of the public with information that could assist the investigation to report to the nearest police station.