In a breakthrough arrest, detectives in Eastleigh, Nairobi, apprehended a man believed to be the key suspect behind the gruesome murder of three family members – a mother, daughter, and 12-year-old niece – found dead last month. The suspect, a 34-year-old former Ethiopian regional police officer with a violent past, was captured on Sunday after evading authorities for weeks despite a multi-country search effort extending to Somalia and Ethiopia.
Investigations indicate the man had been hiding in plain sight in Eastleigh while officials broadened their search across borders. Police say he obtained a Kenyan ID illegally and established himself in Nairobi, running a taxi business in the Eastleigh and Parklands areas. His past includes allegations of killing his own wife in Ethiopia, for which he was jailed before escaping to Kenya.
The suspect has been wanted for questioning in connection with the murders of Amina Abdirashid, her aunt Waris Dahabo Daud, and her young niece, Nusayba Abdi Mohammed, all from Eastleigh. Investigators suspect he knew the victims personally and may have been involved in organized extortion schemes in Nairobi.
According to police reports, the suspect was captured on CCTV driving a Nissan Note that was later found abandoned at Wakulima Market. The vehicle, seized and towed to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for forensic examination, appears to link him directly to the crime, as it was used to transport the victims from their Eastleigh home just hours before their bodies were discovered on October 22.
The disturbing incident began on October 21, when Waris, Amina, and Nusayba went missing. By the following morning, their bodies, each bearing signs of torture and assault, were found scattered at separate locations: Bahati in Makadara, 6th Avenue in Parklands, and Khyumbi in Machakos County. Waris’s body was particularly mutilated, with her neck severed and her hands chopped off. Two dismembered hands were also discovered along Five-Star Road in South C, adding to the brutal nature of the killings.
Preliminary investigations point to a potential ransom-related dispute as a motive for the killings. The suspect allegedly called the family members of the victims, demanding ransom payments in exchange for their release. Another woman who claims to have been held captive alongside the victims revealed chilling details of her ordeal to police. She stated that the killers argued over the victims’ potential to identify them, which led to the tragic decision to eliminate the three.
The woman further claimed that her family paid a ransom of USD 7,000 (approximately KSh 1 million) into an Ethiopian bank account to secure her release, following which she was freed. Kenyan detectives are now seeking cooperation from Ethiopian authorities to trace the funds and unravel any additional connections in the case.
An additional accomplice has been arrested and remains in custody as investigations unfold. Authorities have intensified efforts to establish a clearer picture of the events and the suspect’s network.
Chief Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor’s postmortem examination revealed that Waris suffered extensive mutilation, while Amina succumbed to a fatal stab wound to her heart. The youngest victim, Nusayba, showed signs of smothering, with indications she may have been sexually assaulted before her death.
The suspect, now held at the DCI headquarters, faces charges related to murder, rape, robbery with violence, and extortion. Police have expressed gratitude for public assistance in tracking him down and continue to urge citizens to report any suspicious activity. As investigators work to bring justice for Amina, Waris, and Nusayba, the case highlights the risks posed by cross-border crime and the impact of organized violence on local communities.