SAMBURU, Kenya — Detectives have arrested a 30-year-old man in connection with the brutal killing of his 16-year-old nephew in Samburu County, in a case authorities say stemmed from a domestic disagreement that escalated into fatal violence.
In a statement issued on Saturday, January 17, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said officers from Baragoi Police Station arrested Daniel Tanapua, the prime suspect in the killing of Alpha Lemoosa, which occurred in Tuum Location, Samburu North Sub-County.
According to investigators, the incident unfolded shortly after the suspect and the teenager shared an evening meal, before a disagreement turned violent.
“What began as a domestic disagreement quickly escalated into a violent confrontation, ending in the tragic death of the teenager,” the DCI said.
Police officers who responded to the scene found the minor’s body lying lifeless in a pool of blood. A blood-stained Somali sword, believed to have been used in the attack, was recovered at the scene.
“The body was subsequently transported to Baragoi Sub-County Hospital mortuary for preservation and post-mortem examination,” the DCI stated.
Following the discovery, officers launched a manhunt for the suspect, who fled the scene immediately after the attack. Investigators later tracked Tanapua to a hideout, where he was arrested while allegedly attempting to destroy evidence.
“Tanapua was later arrested at his hideout, where he was found attempting to wash blood-stained clothes in a bid to destroy evidence,” the DCI added.
The suspect is currently being held in police custody and is undergoing processing pending arraignment in court, as detectives finalize investigations.
The killing has shocked residents of Tuum and renewed concerns over domestic violence and intra-family conflicts, particularly in remote areas where access to early intervention and dispute resolution mechanisms remains limited.
The case comes amid a string of violent crime investigations handled by the DCI in recent weeks. In Nyandarua County, detectives last month arrested a man in connection with the murder of his 60-year-old mother, whose disappearance had initially been reported as a missing-person case.
In a statement dated December 24, the DCI said forensic-led investigations led to the arrest of Benson Maina Mwangi, the deceased’s second-born son, who was tracked to a hideout in Kamulu on November 20, 2025.
“Through forensic intelligence, investigators trailed down and arrested the prime suspect,” the DCI said at the time.
Although police efforts to recover all body parts in the Nyandarua case were unsuccessful, the suspect was arraigned in court, with investigators seeking additional time to complete their inquiries.
The DCI has urged members of the public to report early signs of domestic violence and cooperate with law enforcement to prevent similar tragedies.
