![Peter Mugure, a Nanyuki soldier arrested in connection with the disappearances of his wife Joyce Syombua and her two children, will be produced in court on Monday. [PHOTO | COURTESY]](https://k24.digital/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/SYOMBUA.jpg)
By Paul Mwaniki
Peter Mugure, a Nanyuki-based military officer, arrested in connection with the disappearances of his estranged wife and their two children will be produced in court on Monday as detectives intensify investigations into the whereabouts of the three.
Peter Mugure (in maroon T-Shirt) was arrested on Friday, November 15, in connection with the October 26 disappearances of his wife and their two young children. [PHOTO | K24 DIGITAL]
The DCI say that on Monday, November 18, they will seek to hold Mugure in custody for longer as they piece together evidence that could link the suspect to the mother-and-children’s October 26, 2019 disappearances.
Mugure, who is being held at Nanyuki Police Station, was arrested on Friday, November 15, after recording a statement in regard to his kinpersons’ disappearances.
The DCI say that Mugure is being treated as the chief suspect in the disappearances of Joyce Syombua, 31, her children: Shanice, 10, and Prince Michael, 5. The three went missing on October 26.
It has been established that Syombua, Shanice and Michael, who stay in Kayole, Nairobi, visited Mugure at his Nanyuki barracks residence on October 25 upon Mugure’s invitation.
Police say that Syombua and Mugure, who had been in an on-and-off relationship for 13 years, had an agreement that Syombua allows the children to regularly visit Mugure. That agreement was arrived at after a Nairobi court granted Syombua sole custody of the children.
According to Syombua’s mother, Maua Malombe, her daughter’s relationship with Mugure was turbulent by the time she went missing.
Call and text records show that on October 25 and 26, Syombua regularly communicated with her female friend, telling her that Mugure had taken the children out, but did not return home with them. When Syombua reportedly asked where Mugure had left the children, he allegedly told her that he dropped them at his friend’s place so that they [Syombua and Mugure] could have a private time to iron out their differences.
Syombua’s friend would later call her at 7pm on October 26, but her phone line was not reachable.
Syombua’s husband, Mugure, told police that he escorted the mother-of-two and the kids to a Nanyuki bus stage on October 26, where they boarded a Nairobi-bound matatu.
According to the suspect, that was the last time he interacted with his family.
Syombua’s mother, Maua Malombe, now wants DCI boss George Kinoti to personally take up the matter.
