In the past few days, Kenya has been gripped by a series of gruesome discoveries in Nairobi's Mukuru Kwa Njenga slum. The bodies of 42 women have been found at the Kware dumpsite, an abandoned quarry filled with garbage. The latest victim was identified as Josphine Mulongo Owino, whose remains were discovered just four days prior to the arrest of a prime suspect in this case.
Collins Jumaisi Khalusha, a 33-year-old man from Nairobi's Kayole area, confessed to the crimes during interrogation. He acknowledged that his first victim was his own wife and that he had been murdering women since 2022.
The police tracked down Khalusha using a mobile money transfer transaction linked to one of the victims' phone numbers. He was arrested outside a club in Kayole where he had gone to watch the European soccer championship final on July 11, 2024.
Upon his arrest, several items were found in Khalusha's possession that are believed to be connected to the crimes. These include ten cell phones and 24 SIM cards, six ID cards for men and two ID cards for women, one pair of rubber gloves, 12 nylon sacks, ropes, gloves, and a machete.
The police are currently investigating a second suspect who was caught with one of the victims' handsets. The motive behind these killings is still under investigation.
These discoveries have shocked and outraged the Kenyan public. Protests against widespread allegations of police involvement in unlawful arrests and abductions have been ongoing, leading to clashes between protesters and the police.
The latest developments come as Kenya grapples with a cost-of-living crisis, which has resulted in protests against planned tax rises. The country's president, William Ruto, recently fired his entire cabinet in response to the unrest.
This is a developing story and more information will be provided as it becomes available.
