Suspect in Kware killings arraigned in court

By Peter Ochieng

The prime suspect behind the reported murder of several women whose bodies were discovered in Kware dumpsite in Mukuru slums, was arraigned in court on Tuesday, July 16, 2024.

However, Kiambu Law Courts Senior Principal Magistrate Peter Ooko declined to handle the case, involving Collins Jumaisi. The magistrate argued that the matter took place in Embakasi and ought to be handled by the Makadara Law Courts.

Collins was then arraigned at the Makadara Law Courts, under Miscellaneous Application. Interestingly, his lawyer John Maina Ndegwa, claimed his client was tortured and forced into making the confession that he murdered 42 women, adding that he needs urgent medical attention.

“My client, as he sits there, is in dire need of urgent medical attention…for reasons that the period under detention, he was subjected to molestation, torture and the confession that the public is being treated to having murdered 42 persons is laughable,” Ndegwa told the court.

“My client has been subjected to horrendous inhuman mistreatment so that he can confess to issues which are alien to him. I pray that the court directs urgent medical attention even as they do their investigations.”

Jumaisi a native of Vihiga County, reportedly confessed before the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers that he had killed 42 women. He allegedly then disposed of their bodies in the dumpsite over the last two years. He told police that his first victim was his wife, Imelda Judith Halenya.

The court granted prosecution's request to hold the suspect for 30 days as investigations continue.

“The suspect confessed to having lured, killed and disposed of 42 females from 2022 with the latest as recent as last Thursday, July 11. The suspect alleged his first victim was his wife whom he strangled to death before dismembering her body. From our interrogation, all his victims have been murdered in the same style. Our investigations are still ongoing,” DCI boss Mohamed Amin said on Monday.

The mother-in-law of the suspect has since recorded a statement with the DCI, informing police how her daughter went missing in 2022. “In 2022, her WhatsApp account went silent, and we have never heard from her,” she said.

Amin assured the public that investigations will be thorough and shall cover a wide range of areas, including but not limited to the possible activities of cultists and serial killings.”

“As the government deploys all necessary resources and manpower to expedite this investigation, we appeal to the members of the public to remain calm and give our detectives a chance to deliver justice to the victims of this horrendous scene.”

The agency invited families, all interested parties, Law Society of Kenya (LSK), civil society organisations and human rights activists to participate in the postmortem exercise, to ensure that the investigations are carried out most transparently and openly.