Police in Mbeere South, Embu County have retrieved from a river the body of an adult male suspected to be that of a missing Nairobi businessman.
The decomposing body was found trapped inside a damaged car in River Thiba, at Urua village by residents who spotted the roof of the vehicle and informed the police.
Police suspect the body is that of businessman James Maina Muikia who went missing on April 21 while driving his silver VolvoXc60 registration number KCN 336R near Rwika market.
Mbeere South OCPD Ahmed Mohammed said a DNA test will be conducted to establish if the body is that Maina. He added that they were trying to match the fingerprints.
His family have, however, confirmed that it was his car. Maina had reportedly visited his farm in Embu when he went missing.
“We suspect the vehicle was swept away by floods in April and carried for about six kilometers to where it was found trapped by two huge rocks. There were heavy rains then and flooding. It is only this month that the water volume has subsided. We think the missing person is the same one found inside the car,” said Mohammed.
Makima chief Charles Kariuki who was at the scene as the vehicle was being retrieved said farmers pumping water for irrigation spotted the roof of the vehicle
Makima MCA Philip Nzangi said the vehicle appeared to have been swept by water for about six kilometres from the Gachuriri Bridge in Kakawa area.
The body was moved to Siakago hospital mortuary for post-mortem, while the vehicle was towed to Kiritiri Police station.
