Police officers in Machakos County are holding a man suspected to have raped a mentally ill woman aged 77 years.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) says the man had gone into hiding after committing the heinous act.
In a statement, the DCI says the suspect identified as Joseph Muema, aged 45, was arrested in Mwala, Machakos County.
According to the police, the incident has left residents of Ikuuni village in Kindaruma Sub Location in shock.
Police noted that the suspect had sneaked into the bedroom of the 77-year-old victim before being caught in the act by the victim’s son, who had gone to check on his mother at around 11 pm.
“The son’s arrival prompted Muema to escape leading to a chase, but the reportee was overpowered by the fleeing suspect prompting him to call the police for assistance,” the DCI said in a statement posted on its official social media pages.
“Luckily, the suspect had left behind his pair of trousers and akala (tyre-made sandals), making it easier for the search team to trace him in the wee hours of the morning,” it added.
Both the suspect and the victim were escorted to Mbiuni Level 4 Hospital where police say medical tests confirmed that the victim had been raped.
Meanwhile, the suspect is currently in police custody.
He is being processed and is likely to be arraigned in court on Thursday, to face rape charges.
