Tag: Rita Waeni news

Rita Waeni was laid to rest in Mukimwani village, Makueni County, on February 5, surrounded by strict privacy measures enforced by the family. The funeral, restricted to close relatives, saw a heavy police presence ensuring the family’s wishes for privacy were upheld.

The family, led by Pastor Fred Auma of Ridgeways Baptist Church in Nairobi, conducted a two-hour service that commenced at 8 am. The somber occasion reflected the grief and longing for justice experienced by those close to the deceased university student.

Lillian Mutea, Waeni’s aunt and family spokesperson, conveyed gratitude for the support, contributions, and prayers received from friends, colleagues, and fellow Kenyans. The family found solace in the understanding and respect shown by their extended family.

Rita Waeni, a third-year student at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), met a tragic fate after arranging to meet a man she had been communicating with on Instagram. Her disappearance on January 14 led to a ransom demand of Sh500,000, but tragically, she was found dead in an apartment on TRM Drive, with her head discovered at Kiambaa Dam in Kiambu County.

The burial, delayed for two weeks after the discovery, proceeded after detectives released Waeni’s body to the family on February 2. During the ceremony, mourners remembered the 20-year-old as a source of joy, intelligence, and kindness.

Her parents, Stephen Muendo and Dorcas Mwende, expressed their grief in a statement, highlighting Waeni’s positive impact on others. The parents cherished the memories of their daughter’s joyful presence and dedication to making a positive impact.

Waeni, described as a staunch Christian, was remembered by neighbors as a well-behaved girl and a role model to their daughters. Her untimely death marked the second tragedy for the family in January, following the demise of the family patriarch, Mzee William Mutea. Waeni had played a significant role during her grandfather’s burial in early January, reading the eulogy.

State investigative agencies are still working to determine if the human head discovered at a dam in Kiambu two weeks ago belongs to Rira Waeni. Waeni, a student at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), was killed at a short-stay rental apartment in Kasarani, Nairobi, in January 2024.

Corporal Philip Kilonzo from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations’ (DCI) Homicides Unit informed a Makadara court that specimens from the head had been collected and sent to the Government Analyst for comparison with body parts recovered at the apartment. However, the results are pending.

The detective sought an extension of custodial orders for two Nigerian men, William Ovie Opia and Johnbull Asbor, who were arrested in Ndenderu, Kiambu County, the same day the head was discovered. They were residing not far from the location where they were detained.

Cpl. Kilonzo informed Senior Principal Magistrate Agnes Wahito Mwangi that the Homicides Unit took over the investigation on January 22 and is yet to interview the two suspects to determine their places of residence.

The detective mentioned that the DCI had requested confirmation of the nationality of the two men and the status of their passports from the immigration department.

Additionally, a laptop and mobile phones were seized from the suspects at the time of arrest. These items were forwarded to Cybercrime experts for analysis, with the results still pending.

“The investigating team is still awaiting the call data records and analysis of the SIM cards recovered to establish if they were involved in the planning of the heinous act,” stated Cpl. Kilonzo in the court-filed affidavit.

Given the ongoing investigations and potential flight risks, the detective argued that the two suspects should remain in custody until the investigations are concluded. The court remanded them at the Ruaraka police station until February 15 when the DCI is expected to present them in court.

An autopsy conducted on the severed head of Rita Waeni Muendo, a murdered university student, revealed that she was strangled and subsequently decapitated. Chief Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor shared these findings on Thursday, January 25, following a postmortem examination at City Mortuary in Nairobi. Oduor also disclosed evidence of bruising on Waeni’s scalp caused by a blunt object.

“The main findings were that the head had been chopped off from the neck at the level of C5 (vertebrae on the neck). There was bruising on the scalp caused by a blunt object. We also saw some fractures on bones,” Oduor stated during a press briefing. “I can comfortably conclude that the cause of death was strangulation after which she was decapitated and her body dumped.”

The family of the deceased identified a human head recovered from a dam as belonging to Waeni based on features such as her forehead, hair, and teeth. This identification allowed pathologists, led by Chief Oduor, to conduct an autopsy on the head to determine the circumstances of her death on January 13 in an apartment in Roysambu, Nairobi.

Detectives are considering the possibility that Waeni’s murder is linked to an ongoing occultism trend in the country. The investigation team is exploring occultism as one of the potential motives behind this cold-blooded murder.

The dismembered body of Waeni was discovered in a dustbin at an apartment on TRM Drive, Kasarani, but her head was missing. The head was later found wrapped in a purple female blouse and placed in a green carrier bag with a stone.

The family initially struggled to identify the head last Monday at the City Mortuary. It had been recovered from the dam in Kiambu on Sunday, January 21. The autopsy on the head was initially scheduled for Tuesday but was postponed to Thursday, with detectives from the DCI homicide unit citing unreadiness.

Locals found the human head floating in Ite Dam at Kimuga village, Kimuga sub-location, Kiambaa location. On Sunday, January 21, two Nigerians were arrested in connection with the murder. Items recovered from their residence included a hatchet, butcher’s knife, a national identity card belonging to Omar Mwamkwaju Juma, six mobile phones, three laptops, and 10 SIM cards from different telecom service providers.

A chilling discovery has shaken Kiambaa, Kiambu County: a woman’s head, wrapped in a purple blouse and hidden in a black paper bag, was found submerged in a local dam.

Alerted by concerned residents, authorities arrived on Sunday, January 21st, to a scene of unspeakable horror. DCI forensic teams meticulously pieced together the grim picture, collecting fragments of a shattered life amidst the evidence.

A stone clutched within the bag pointed towards an attempt to conceal the gruesome deed, a chilling testament to the perpetrator’s cruelty. The head now lies at City Mortuary, awaiting forensic analysis in the desperate hope of identifying the victim and piecing together a narrative shattered by violence.

Whispers of Rita Waeni, whose dismembered body was found in Nairobi a week earlier, hang heavy in the air. Detectives grapple with the possibility, their lips sealed until science speaks. Rita’s family, still reeling from the unimaginable, revealed a chilling detail: a ransom demand of Sh500,000 issued by her abductors, a cruel prelude to a senseless tragedy.

Chief Government Pathologist Dr. Johansen Oduor, seasoned in the grim realities of his profession, expresses stark horror. He reveals a chilling detail: the perpetrator’s attempt to remove the victim’s fingernails, an unsettling effort to silence the silent whispers of DNA.

Kenya’s collective breath hitches. This grisly act of violence ignites a familiar firestorm of outrage. Women’s rights groups, civil societies, and human rights advocates echo the deafening cry for justice, their voices amplified by the weight of countless silenced stories.

Beyond the cold facts and forensic details, a human life was brutally extinguished, a family shattered, and a community left reeling. Kiambaa’s dam now holds not just water, but a stark reflection of Kenya’s struggle against gender-based violence. The fight for justice begins with remembering her, a nameless face etched in the memory of a nation, until her name, and the names of countless others, can be spoken without fear.

The recent autopsy on the 20-year-old woman, Rita Waeni, found murdered and dismembered in a Nairobi suburb, reveals that she suffered a painful death. Chief Government pathologist Johansen Oduor stated on January 19, 2023, that Rita was murdered, and a sharp object was used to remove her skin. Her bones were also cut with a power saw, an unprecedented incident in the pathologist’s forensic experience.

Oduor further highlighted that the killer attempted to clip the victim’s fingernails, possibly in an effort to erase his DNA. Samples have been collected for further analysis as detectives intensify efforts to apprehend the perpetrators. The head of the deceased is still missing, adding to the grim nature of the crime.

The unidentified man responsible for the murder had rented an AirBnB unit, specifically house number B1 on the first floor of the Green House Apartments. The room was rented by a middle-aged man who did not provide personal details. Rita Waeni’s brutal murder shocked the nation, occurring shortly after the killing of socialite Starlet Wahu in a short-stay apartment in South B, Nairobi, just a week earlier.

Waeni’s family reported receiving a ransom message demanding Sh500,000 shortly before her body was discovered. The University student had been lured to her death by a man she met on Instagram, emphasizing the dangers of online interactions. The tragic similarity to Wahu’s case, who also met her killer through a dating application, has ignited widespread outrage, with human rights groups and politicians, including opposition leader Raila Odinga, expressing deep concern.

The Mutea family, to which Rita Waeni Muendo belonged, has decided to share their perspective on the tragic demise of their loved one.

In a statement, the family expressed deep sorrow and heartbreak over the untimely loss of their daughter, Waeni. “It is with profound sorrow and broken hearts that we, the Mutea family, address the media today. Our beautiful Waeni, a radiant soul in our lives, was tragically taken from us far too soon,” they conveyed.

Waeni, aged 20, was on the brink of entering her final year at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).

Providing details about the events leading to Waeni’s death, the family shared that she left her aunt’s residence in Syokimau to meet a friend on Saturday. However, at around 5 am on Sunday, her father received a ransom message from Waeni’s phone, demanding Sh500,000 within 24 hours for her release.

The family promptly reported the matter to the police and DCI, initiating an investigation. Two more ransom messages followed, but the family did not receive additional details or an opportunity to negotiate.

Waeni’s lifeless body was discovered on Sunday, found in a paper bag off Thika Road, Nairobi. The police revealed that she had been stabbed and dismembered in an apartment along TRM Drive, Thika Road, with her head still missing.

Even after Waeni’s murder, the family continued to receive ransom demands. Despite their painful efforts, they positively identified her as the victim of the tragic incident near Thika Road Mall on the morning of Sunday.

The family believes that Waeni was lured by her killer, who persisted in extorting money even after her death.

Waeni’s parents, siblings, and the entire family are devastated by this tragic event, and they request privacy as they mourn their daughter. They appeal to the media for understanding and respect during this difficult time.

The family expressed gratitude to the DCI for their support and pledged to collaborate closely to seek justice for Waeni. They hope that, with time, the truth will prevail, and those responsible for this senseless act will be held accountable.