Detectives have launched a full-scale murder investigation after a 21-year-old student from Riat College was found dead in a forest in Kisumu West days after she was reported missing.
Body Recovered in Riat Forest
Officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, working alongside teams from Maseno Police Station and Riat Police Post, recovered the decomposing body in Riat forest.
According to investigators, the body bore multiple stab wounds, indicating a violent death.
Suspect Arrested
The grim discovery followed the earlier arrest of a prime suspect believed to have orchestrated the student’s alleged gang rape, torture, and subsequent disappearance.
Police say the suspect, described as a former boyfriend, had been seen with the victim on the night of April 5, 2026.
Disturbing Final Moments
The case came to light after the victim’s sister raised alarm when she was unable to reach her.
According to the DCI, the student later sent a distressing text message indicating she had been lured into a drinking spree by two male colleagues.
Investigators believe she was drugged, sexually assaulted while incapacitated, and later abandoned in a bush.
Her phone went off shortly after the message.
Forensic Leads and Investigation
Detectives traced her last known location to Milimani, Kisumu near the Kenya Wildlife Service offices, but initial searches did not locate her.
As investigations progressed, forensic analysis and witness accounts led to the identification and arrest of the suspect.
Authorities also revealed that the student had reportedly received threats over the past two months, with the suspect allegedly making repeated visits to her residence in Riat.
Case Escalates to Murder Probe
The recovery of the body has now shifted the case from a missing person inquiry to a murder investigation.
Detectives are pursuing additional suspects believed to have been involved in the attack.
Awaiting Arraignment
The suspect remains in custody and is being processed for arraignment as investigations continue.
The incident has sparked outrage and renewed calls for justice and stronger measures to address gender-based violence in the country.
