Residents of Marurui area in Kiambu county woke up to a sombre mood after the macabre killing of a family of four.
Ann Gathoni, 33, and her three children aged 14, 8 and 5 were killed on Monday morning in what police suspect is a case of love gone sour.
The 14-year-old girl had been raped before her life was taken.
Sleuths investigating the heinous act are following crucial leads which have pointed a finger to Gathoni's estranged lover only identified as Maina.
Neighbours said Maina had met Gathoni with the three children and they started and affair that resulted in the birth of a 2-year-old girl.
The toddler was spared as the suspect wiped out the other family members.
A local teacher said the young girl told her that her father came last night and gave her chips.
"He is the main suspect. How come his daughter survived the killing?" a neighbour said.
The deceased mother was a popular figure in the area where bar patrons said she was a frequent visitor.
On Sunday night, she had been in one of the local bars where she took a few drinks before heading home.
Residents said Gathoni became popular during the 2017 campaigns as she was a die hard Jubilee fan.
"She was social and did grassroots mobilization for Uhuru. She was a fanatic of the president," Mary Kihiu said.