Kisumu County has been plunged into shock and grief following the grim discovery of a decomposing body of a 21-year-old RIAT College student in Riat Forest, days after she was reported missing under disturbing circumstances.
Detectives from Kisumu West Sub-County, working jointly with officers from Maseno Police Station and Riat Police Post, made the heartbreaking recovery after an intensive manhunt.
The body, which bore multiple stab wounds, is believed to be that of the young student who disappeared on the night of April 5, 2026, in Kisumu’s Milimani area.
According to preliminary investigations, the victim’s final moments were marked by unimaginable horror.
What began as routine attempts by her elder sister to reach her quickly turned into a nightmare. After several failed calls attributed to poor network connectivity, a chilling distress text finally came through close to midnight. In it, the victim revealed she had been lured into a drinking spree by two male colleagues from the same institution, leaving her vulnerable and incapacitated.
It is alleged that in her weakened state, she was subjected to a gang rape before being dumped in a bush while in critical condition. Moments later, her phone went off—marking the last trace of her alive.
Alarmed by the message, the family raised the alarm, prompting detectives to launch a swift and meticulous investigation. Forensic analysis placed her last known location near the Kenya Wildlife Service offices in Milimani. However, initial searches yielded no results.
A breakthrough came after sustained investigations led detectives to a key suspect—identified as Steven Coleman Okoth, believed to be the victim’s former boyfriend. Authorities say he was seen with the heavily intoxicated student on the night she vanished.
Further investigations uncovered a troubling history of threats allegedly issued by the suspect over the past two months. He is said to have repeatedly stalked and visited the victim’s residence in Riat, raising serious concerns about prior harassment.
Upon his arrest, detectives recovered crucial exhibits believed to hold evidentiary value, significantly advancing the case. Police now suspect the attack may have been premeditated, with more accomplices still at large.
The suspect is currently in custody and undergoing processing ahead of his arraignment in court, as detectives intensify the hunt for other individuals linked to the heinous crime.
The brutal killing has sparked outrage among students and residents, with calls for justice growing louder across Kisumu and beyond.
Authorities are urging members of the public with any information that could assist in the ongoing investigations to come forward.
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