Nairobi, January 18, 2024 – In a shocking turn of events, Nairobi’s Roysambu area is gripped by a murder investigation surrounding the brutal killing of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture Technology student, Rita Waeni Muendo. The chilling details emerged as witnesses, including the owner of a short-stay rental apartment, and two other men, recounted the horrifying incident.
The witnesses, who were taken into custody near the crime scene, described the killer as a young and light-skinned individual who spoke Swahili fluently. A desperate attempt to identify the culprit led to an identification parade at the Kasarani police station, where a man initially arrested as he left the airport was declared not to be the assailant.
The witnesses, now detained for ten days, were arraigned on charges related to the failure to maintain records of the killer at the Green House Apartments, as required by law. The absence of crucial details hindered the investigation into the murder of Rita Waeni, whose body was discovered dismembered in an apartment rented by an unidentified man.
The DCI revealed that one witness found near the crime scene had a blood-like substance under his nails, raising suspicions. Another claimed to have been watching an Africa Cup of Nations match and having dinner with the alleged killer.
During the identification parade, all witnesses consistently reported that the murderer spoke in Swahili. Both the apartment owner and the rental agent confirmed that the killer communicated in Swahili during the booking process, leading to the release of a foreigner initially arrested at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
However, the investigation took an unexpected turn when it was revealed that Waeni and her killer had connected on the social media platform Instagram. Detectives cracked the slain woman’s account, uncovering the disturbing messages that indicated a ransom demand of Sh500,000 and a picture sent by the killer using Rita’s phone, displaying a hacksaw.
The family of the victim identified Rita as a fourth-year student and disclosed that the killer demanded a ransom to spare her life. The family received messages demanding the payment within 24 hours, with additional threats even after the murder had occurred.
Tragically, the caretaker of the apartment discovered the dismembered body of Rita, missing her head, inside a trash bag on January 14. The family believes she was lured by the killer, who continued to extort money even after her death.
The motive behind this gruesome crime remains unclear, leaving the family and investigators searching for answers. Rita Waeni is remembered by her family as an intelligent, kind-hearted young woman, on the brink of her fourth year at university, whose promising future was abruptly cut short by this heinous act.
As the police intensify their efforts to trace the suspected killer, the community is left in shock, grappling with the brutality of a crime that has shaken the foundations of safety and security in Roysambu. The investigation continues, and authorities urge anyone with information to come forward to ensure justice for Rita Waeni Muendo.