NAIROBI, Kenya – The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has placed a Sh1 million bounty on Collins Jumaisi Khalusha, the key suspect in the chilling murders of more than 40 women whose bodies were discovered at the Kware dumpsite in Nairobi.
Jumaisi, who hails from Shiru sub-location in Hamisi sub-county, Vihiga County, had been arrested earlier this year but staged a dramatic escape from the highly secured Muthaiga Police Station on August 20, 2024. He slipped away with 12 Eritrean detainees just hours before his scheduled arraignment.
The suspect is accused of luring women from Nairobi’s informal settlements, killing them, and dumping their bodies in the disused Kware quarry. Among the victims was his wife, Imelda Khamenya. Investigators said Jumaisi initially confessed to the crimes but later recanted, alleging police coercion.
The escape, reportedly facilitated by police officers bribed by fellow suspects, has triggered a storm over lax security in detention facilities. Despite an extensive manhunt spanning months, Jumaisi remains at large.
“We are appealing to members of the public to provide any information that may lead to his arrest. A reward of Sh1 million awaits anyone who shares actionable intelligence,” said a DCI spokesperson in Nairobi on Tuesday.
The Kware killings sparked national outrage, with rights groups warning of the dangers faced by women in informal settlements where poverty, insecurity, and weak policing intersect. Activists have also pressed for accountability over Jumaisi’s escape, calling it a betrayal of justice for the victims’ families.
Mary Atieno, a women’s rights advocate in Nairobi, described the bounty as overdue. “This suspect should never have slipped through the cracks. Forty-two women lost their lives, and their families deserve justice. The state must demonstrate seriousness, not just with rewards but also with accountability for those who enabled his escape,” she said.
With the bounty now announced, the DCI is urging citizens to remain vigilant and report any sightings to the nearest police station. For many, however, the case remains a painful reminder of both Kenya’s struggle against gender-based violence and persistent gaps in law enforcement.
