Investigations into the murder of Rita Waeni, a 20-year-old Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) student, have taken a new turn with the arraignment of four Kenyan suspects at the Madaraka Law Courts.
Surprisingly, the alleged Nigerian suspect reported to have been arrested at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) was released after police discovered his arrest was a mistaken identity
Among those presented in court on Wednesday, January 17, were a male JKUAT student and two male neighbors who had spent the night at the Roysambu apartments. The fourth suspect is the owner of the house where Waeni was found dead.
Police have also stated that this residence served as short-stay accommodation, commonly referred to as AirBnB, within the apartment complex.
Police reports further indicate that one of the male suspects had slept in close proximity to the house where Waeni was murdered. He was also discovered with blood-like stains under his nails. The police requested the court to extend the suspects’ detention to allow further investigation into the origin of the blood substance.
It remains unclear whether the suspect had direct contact with the deceased or the evidence before it was collected by the police.
Additionally, it was revealed that the suspect with blood stains had been in the company of the JKUAT male student and another neighbor on the night of the incident. The trio claimed to have watched an African Cup of Nations (AFCON) match and shared a meal before parting ways.
The JKUAT student asserted that he had visited the Roysambu apartments that day to see his uncle and left after the match.
The fourth suspect, the owner of the short-term accommodation unit, was accused of failing to record full details of the man believed to have invited Waeni for the night.
Senior Principal Magistrate Justus Kituku emphasized the importance of a thorough investigation, stating, “It is in the best interest of the respondents that they are thoroughly investigated and exonerated if they are innocent rather than hurried investigations where they charge only to be acquitted after a long trial.”
He acknowledged the heightened concern in the public regarding murder cases in short-stay rentals and emphasized the need for a comprehensive examination of the circumstances to address the safety concerns of those utilizing such accommodations.
