Raila condemns killings of young women in Nairobi Airbnbs

By Peter Ochieng

Azimio La Umoja One Kenya leader, Raila Odinga has condemned a wave of killings of young women, within apartments operating as Air Bed and Breakfast (Airbnb).

At least two young women have been murdered in such establishments, within less than two weeks in Nairobi.

Odinga in a statement on his social media pages on Wednesday, said the killings are troubling.

"It is sad to see a troubling increase in the deaths of young women, leaving a trail of grief for families and friends. The abnormality of these murders cannot become the new normal. Murder is and will always be wrong, and there is no excuse," said the former Prime Minister.

"The ugly scourge of murder of women is now a national emergency. It is a threat to homeland security. It must come to an end," he added.

Over the weekend, police in Nairobi launched investigations into the murder of a woman whose body was found at an Airbnb located in Roysambu.

The incident comes barely a week after socialite Starlet Wahu was found murdered in an Airbnb in South B, leading to the arrest of a man she had checked in with identified as John Matara.

Matara is under investigation for possible involvement in serial killings, targeting women.

The incident in Roysambu was reported by a property manager of the guest house, who alerted police on the discovery of blood-stained bedsheets on the staircase.

Police later found the woman’s body stashed in polythene bags, suggesting the killer may have tried to dispose it off.

Detectives from Kasarani, Nairobi county, have since arrested a foreign national at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on suspicion of being involved in the murder, in Roysambu.

The suspect who was travelling using a Mozambican passport was intercepted, before boarding a plane.