A shocking discovery in Huruma, a district east of Nairobi, Kenya, has led to the arrest of 29-year-old John Kiama Wambua.
A statement from Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) described the officers’ reaction to the discovery as “shock.” Upon interrogation, Wambua calmly identified the remains as those of his 19-year-old wife, Joy Fridah Munani. The DCI statement noted his “unperturbed” demeanor.
Following the interrogation, Wambua led officers to his home, where further evidence was uncovered. A knife, blood-soaked clothing, and additional body parts were found hidden under a bed. The DCI described the act as “heinous” and stated that Wambua will face formal murder charges in an upcoming court hearing.
This disturbing incident highlights Kenya’s alarmingly high rate of femicide, placing it among the nations with the highest rates in Africa. The gravity of the situation is underscored by recent statistics: between August and October of last year, at least 97 women were murdered, according to Kenya’s National Police Service. Public outrage over this wave of violence erupted in December when hundreds of women protesting the femicides took to the streets of Nairobi, only to be met with police teargas.
This case is far from isolated. Kenya has seen several high-profile femicides in recent times. In September 2024, Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei was tragically killed by her former partner; the 33-year-old succumbed to injuries sustained days after being set alight at her home in western Kenya.
In July, police apprehended Collins Jumaisi Khalusha, described as a “serial killer,” after the discovery of nine mutilated female bodies in a disused quarry. However, Khalusha escaped custody a month later and remains at large.
Earlier that year, the brutal murder of Rita Waeni, whose dismembered body was found stuffed in a plastic bag at a short-term rental apartment, sparked widespread public anger and condemnation.
