Kenya

Journalist found decapitated

Article published on the 2009-01-31 Latest update 2009-01-31 15:05 TU

Francis Nyaruri, a reporter for the privately owned Kenyan Weekly Citizen whose pen name was Mong'are Mokua, was found decapitated and bound in a forest in Western Kenya on Thursday, according to NGO Committee to Protect Journalists. He had been missing since 15 January, according to local journalists and relatives.

Nyaruri's body was found in Kodera forest, Nyanza province, Nyanza deputy Police Chief  Larry Kieng confirmed to reporters. Nyaruri's wife, Josephine Kwamboka, indentified the body at a Kisii hospital, accord to local reports.

Nyaruri had written a series of exopsés on financial scams and other fraud carried out by the local police department, local journalists said.

The journalists told CPJ that he had been issued death threats prior to his disappearance.