Police in Migori are holding three suspects in connection with the death of a female Kenya Defence Forces officer who was found dead on Christmas Eve at her home in Nyahera Village, Suna East Sub-county.
Officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) arrested the trio to assist with investigations into the death of Lieutenant Cynthia Awuor Mboya, a 28-year-old officer stationed at Gilgil Barracks. Those detained include Ms Awuor’s husband, her mother-in-law and her brother-in-law.
Investigators recovered several items from the scene, including clothing believed to have been worn at the time of the suspected killing. A machete, suspected to be the weapon used, was also found.
Lieutenant Cynthia Awuor Mboya, a 28-year-old officer based at Gilgil Barracks, was found dead with a deep facial cut and signs of strangulation while home for the Christmas holidays.
Photo credit: Pool
Lieutenant Mboya had travelled home after taking a short break from duty to spend the festive season with her husband. She was expected to return to Gilgil, where she served as a second lieutenant. Instead, her life was cut short under tragic circumstances.
Security officers from Migori Police Station, responding to a distress call from her husband, found the officer lying in her bedroom. Preliminary examinations revealed a deep cut on her nose and signs consistent with strangulation.
According to a police report, the husband said he was away at the time of the incident and was the one who alerted authorities. He reported that he had closed his shop shortly before 1 am and returned home, only to find the front door unusually wide open. Upon entering the bedroom, he said he discovered his wife’s body and immediately reported the matter.
Suna East Police Commander Samuel Boit said the case was first reported to Osingo South Sub-location Assistant Chief Calvis Odeka, who escalated it to the police.
“The assistant chief received information from the husband that upon returning home from Migori town, he found the house doors wide open and his wife lying in a pool of blood. He then raised the alarm,” Mr Boit said.
The incident was formally reported at Migori Police Station at 3.50 am, after which officers proceeded to the scene. The body was later moved to Migori County Referral Hospital mortuary, where a post-mortem examination is pending.
Mr Boit added that the husband also reported that two mobile phones belonging to the deceased were missing. He was subsequently detained to assist investigators.
“He is assisting the police with investigations. His detention is meant to help officers gather more information surrounding the case,” Mr Boit said, adding that the man is being treated as a key suspect.
His arrest followed a renewed visit to the crime scene by DCI officers seeking additional clues to establish the motive and those responsible. Detectives also searched the suspect’s shop in Migori town.
During the search of the house, officers recovered a pair of black sweatpants, a grey sweater, grey sports shoes and a navy blue cap, believed to be clothing worn by the husband.
At the shop, located at Cool Plaza in Migori town, detectives recovered a panga bearing red stains, which has been taken for forensic analysis.
