NAKURU, Kenya – Detectives have arrested a 23-year-old man suspected of murdering Joy Wangui, an 18-year-old Form Four student at Molo Secondary School, following a sustained manhunt in Nakuru County.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said on October 6 that the suspect, identified as Kipkoech, was traced to a hideout in Lagwenda village, Kuresoi North, where he had allegedly been hiding since the killing.
Detectives from Molo, working alongside officers from the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau (CRIB) based at the Regional Criminal Investigations Headquarters in Rift Valley, carried out the operation.
“A murder suspect who went on the run after the brutal killing of a Form Four student in Molo has been arrested, following a sustained manhunt by detectives,” the DCI said.
Suspect Arrested In Hideout
According to the DCI, detectives closed in on the hideout and flushed out the suspect, bringing to an end a search that began after Wangui’s body was discovered.
At the time of his arrest, the suspect was allegedly wearing blood-stained boxer shorts, a white T-shirt and black jeans with visible dry blood stains.
Detectives also noted that the white T-shirt bore the name of the deceased student on its hem.
“When the long arm of the law finally caught up with him, Kipkoech was wearing a blood-stained boxer, a white T-shirt bearing the deceased’s name at the hem, and black jeans with visible dry blood stains,” the DCI said.
The suspect was escorted to Molo Police Station, where he is being processed ahead of his arraignment as detectives continue investigating the circumstances surrounding the student’s death.
Detectives Probe Possible Relationship Dispute
Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspect was Wangui’s boyfriend.
The DCI said detectives are pursuing a possible relationship dispute as one of the lines of inquiry into the motive behind the killing.
However, investigations are ongoing and the motive has not been conclusively established.
Student Found Dead At Family Home
Wangui was found dead on Sunday evening at her family’s home in Kiambaa area, Moto Location.
Her brother reportedly discovered her body after returning from a brief errand.
According to the DCI account, the student was found in the kitchen in a pool of blood and had suffered severe injuries.
Detectives recovered a bloodstained axe, panga and two knives near the scene.
Her head was later found in a corridor, where investigators said a message had allegedly been written in blood on a wall.
The message reportedly expressed love, alluded to ‘cheating’, and contained an apology.
Police are continuing to piece together the events leading to the student’s death as the suspect awaits arraignment in court.
