A suspected serial killer and former prisoner linked to the murder of six people has been arrested by homicide detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). On Friday, November 1, DCI detectives arrested the suspect who police say has killed six people within Narok town in the last four months.
The male suspect, who has been identified as a former convict sentenced to life imprisonment, was arrested in a multi-agency operation that led to the recovery of several mobile phones believed to be proceeds of crime.
Investigators hunted down the suspect following a surge of reported murder cases in the area and a forensic trail left by the suspect.
This came following a series of brutal murders that got residents worried as their outcry was loud and painful.
DCI director Mohamed Amin says investigators forensically analyzed evidence on the murders leading to the identification of a serial killer at large.
Investigators began by taking stock of the crime scenes in some of the reported cases and a critical analysis of CCTV footage which captured some of the occurrences.
Among the incidents reported to DCI Narok North was one reported on July 30 involving a woman named Linet Mmbone who was robbed and injured. The 38-year-old later sadly succumbed to injuries.
Ex-prisoner linked to six murders in Narok
On August 26, another violent robbery was reported where Wycliff Weiseku Nyanchoka was killed.
The suspect is believed to have continued with his heinous acts in September Joel Maina Kweri allegedly fell into the hands of the suspect. He was robbed and brutally murdered.
Additionally, the fourth victim to meet his death in the same manner by the same suspect was Onyango Omollo.
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As the horrendous murders rocked Narok town, Hillary Leken was attacked and killed during the same period. The most recent killing linked to the suspect was that of another man named Moses Sanigo.
According to the DCI, a mobile phone stolen from one of the victims was a big breakthrough for investigators.
Forensic data retrieved from the phone led to the arrest of the suspect.
It was established that the suspect had been sentenced to life imprisonment but was released in March 2024 after serving 15 years in prison.
Just a month after his release, the lone ranger was again at the center of bloody and deadly murders within Narok township, targeting local vendors.
A multi-agency operation led to the arrest of three of his accomplices, with police recovering several mobile phones believed to be proceeds of crime.
The suspect is said to have been using a dagger, a sword, and a Maasai rungu to cause painful deaths to his victims.
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Police presented the former prisoner at Narok Law Courts. He will be detained for 21 days as investigations continue into the six murders and any other violent crimes associated with the suspect.
Murder cases in 2024
The arrest comes amid a surge of murder cases in the country over the last two months and throughout this year which has compelled the National Police Service (NPS) to respond.
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The Inspector General of Police (IG) Douglas Kanja in a statement on October 24 highlighted that there has been a slight increase in murder cases reported from August to October for the years 2022 to 2024.
According to NPS, 339 murder cases have been recorded so far in 2024, compared to 336 cases in 2023 and 341 in 2022 respectively.
Deputy IG Eliud Kipkoech Lagat, on his part, in a statement on Wednesday confirmed that at least 97 women have been killed in the last three months.
In response to the worrying statistics, President William Ruto while speaking during the swearing-in of Prof. Kithure Kindiki as the new Deputy President of Kenya on Friday ordered DCI to ensure that all cases that have been reported are thoroughly probed and perpetrators brought to book.
“I know that of recent we have seen incidences of our girls, our mothers, our women who have been murdered in cold blood. Let me say that the DCI and all investigative agencies in Kenya must stand up to these criminals and we must deal decisively and firmly,” said Ruto.
He further urged Kenyans to be careful with criminals who lure girls and women into situations that comprise their security and be on the lookout.
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