When a stranger walked into the home of Evelyn Mukiri Mbaabu in Chabuene village, Meru County, at about 7pm on August 7 and asked for water, she gladly offered him a drink and even invited him to have supper.

In her characteristic generosity, the 65-year-old quickly sent her teenage grandson to fetch water from the main house as the visitor made himself comfortable outside.

Mukiri was preparing supper in a kitchen built separately from the main house when the seemingly harmless visit turned deadly.

According to a police report, her grandson was away fetching water when he was jolted by his grandmother’s screams.

“Upon rushing back to the kitchen, he found the victim lying in a pool of blood with cuts on her forehead and at the back of the head. The man is said to have also hit the boy on his arm with the machete before fleeing,” the police report states.

Mr Paul Kinyua, Mukiri’s brother-in-law, was among the first neighbours to respond to the cries for help.

“I was at home when I heard the screams from my brother's home. Immediately, we found her lying in a pool of blood; we rushed her to hospital. However, she was pronounced dead on arrival. She was brutally murdered,” Mr Kinyua told mourners on Tuesday.

The suspect vanished from the compound as quickly as he had appeared, leaving investigators with a chilling mystery over the motive and identity of the attacker.

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To residents of Imenti North, Mukiri was widely known for her generosity, community service and a warm smile.

She was a member of the North Imenti NG-CDF board and a conservationist who was deeply involved in Imenti Forest conservation and wildlife protection.

Her death has left residents struggling to reconcile her reputation for kindness with the violent circumstances in which she was killed.

“We believe that the one who committed the heinous act was a hitman sent to kill. It is a big blow to the family. We urge the investigating agencies to track down, arrest and ensure the suspects face the law,” Mr Kinyua said.

As Mukiri was laid to rest at her Kithoka home on August 19, 2026, the circumstances surrounding her murder remained unclear, with investigators pursuing several possible leads.

Imenti North Deputy County Commissioner Odilia Ndeti said investigators and homicide detectives were pursuing various leads to ensure those responsible were arrested and brought to book.

North Imenti MP Rahim Dawood said detectives were also examining possible motives behind the killing.

“I have engaged the director of DCI to ensure all resources are deployed to hunt the killers. The suspect thinks they can hide, but he will be arrested. The matter has been escalated to the director of homicide Martin Nyabuto to ensure no leads are lost,” Mr Dawood said.

He added that detectives were investigating whether the murder could be linked to two matters involving Mukiri, including a land dispute and a case in which she was a whistleblower.

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Mukiri had recently been appointed a Kenya Wildlife Service honorary warden for being a vocal advocate for elephant conservation, earning her the nickname “Mama Ndovu”.

During her burial, she was eulogised as a selfless, joyful, generous and loving woman who devoted herself to helping others.

“She possessed a beautiful smile, a wonderful sense of humour, and a warmth that made people feel welcome wherever she went. She was always ready to offer advice, encouragement, financial support, or simply a listening ear to those in need. She served others without seeking recognition, as her generosity and compassion were simply part of who she was,” her eulogy stated.

Ms Esther Njenga, Mukiri’s sister, said the family was still reeling from shock and confusion following the killing.

“My sister had a big golden heart. She was very good at uniting people and selflessly generous. She could give out all her milk and drink black tea,” Ms Njenga said.

Residents are now calling for increased security awareness in villages, urging authorities to intensify investigations to prevent similar attacks and bring Mukiri’s killers to justice.

For a woman whose final act was to offer water and food to a stranger, her violent death has left many in fear and apprehension.

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dmuchui@ke.nationmedia.com