Police are currently grappling with the mysterious murder of a 20-year-old girl, Rita Waeni Muendo, in a short-term rental room located in Roysambu, Nairobi. The perplexing aspect of the investigation lies in the missing head of the victim, whose dismembered body parts were discovered wrapped in papers near the TRM shopping mall last Sunday.
According to the authorities, it has been determined that the perpetrators employed a machete to carry out the gruesome act, prompting the victim’s family to associate the incident with a kidnapping for ransom. Dr. Lilian Mutea, the family spokesperson, disclosed in a media statement on Wednesday that Rita Waeni Muendo was a fourth-year student at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).
The family’s ordeal began when Rita left her aunt’s house in Syokimau, Machakos, on Saturday to meet a friend. Subsequently, on Sunday morning, her father received a message from her phone demanding a ransom of Ksh 500,000 within 24 hours for her release. The family reported the matter to the police, initiating an investigation that led to two more ransom demands.
What baffles the family is the lack of additional details or an opportunity to make the payment, and the fact that some of the demands were made even after the victim had been murdered. Expressing their grief over the brutal incident, the family stated that they identified Rita as the victim after collaborating with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and searching tirelessly.
The family emphasized the emotional devastation caused by the loss, describing Rita as an intelligent and bright girl known for her kindness, generosity, and ability to bring joy wherever she went.
As of Wednesday, three suspects are in police custody. The prime suspect, apprehended at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), was attempting to flee the country. Investigations revealed that the victim and her killer had initially connected through an online platform. Additionally, two other suspects are cooperating with the police in their ongoing investigation.
Authorities have questioned neighbors of the crime scene to ascertain whether they heard any unusual noises. There is suspicion that the murderer used fake documents to register the phone line in the victim’s name, using it to rent the room and evade detection. It is also believed that the perpetrators drugged the victim before dismembering her body in the rented room’s bathroom.
The circumstances surrounding Rita Waeni Muendo’s tragic demise continue to unfold as investigators work to unravel the complexities of this horrifying crime.
