Sombre mood has engulfed Gilgil, Nakuru, after a student was reportedly brutally murdered on August 23, 2026—just one day before schools reopened for the new term.
The deceased has been identified as Grace Nyaura.
According to information shared by her family, Grace left home intending to visit a friend, with whom she is said to have gone to school together.
However, she never returned, raising immediate concern among relatives who soon began a desperate search for her after her disappearance stretched into the following days.
The situation took a tragic turn on Monday, August 25, 2026, when Grace’s body was discovered near the Mbaruk railway line in Gilgil Sub-county.
Relatives who spoke to local residents said they received the heartbreaking news only after the discovery, plunging the family into grief and disbelief.
Community members described the death as sudden and shocking, particularly given the timing—at the start of a school term when students are usually preparing to resume learning.
Authorities who confirmed the incident said they suspect Grace may have been attacked and killed as she made her way back home.
Police sources indicated that early observations at the scene suggested signs of violence, including evidence consistent with a struggle before her death.
Investigators are therefore treating the case as murder, as they work to piece together Grace’s last moments.
Local residents have also expressed concern over safety, especially in areas near major transport routes such as railway lines.
Several people said they have increasingly noticed suspicious activity in the outskirts of town and are calling for heightened patrols and stronger measures to protect students traveling to and from school and homes.
The body was taken to the mortuary at Nakuru Referral Hospital, where it is currently awaiting an autopsy.
Officials say the examination will help establish the exact cause of death and provide crucial information that may guide the ongoing investigations.