The mysterious disappearance of fishmonger Jane Achieng Omullo began with a meeting at a local pub in Likoni, Mombasa County, before her dismembered body was later discovered in different locations across Mombasa and Kwale counties.
A murder trial heard that Jane met Macdonald Owino and Alice Achieng at a bar operated by the couple on February 6, 2025.
“During this meeting, Owino informed Alice of his intention to marry Jane. A disagreement then occurred,” Inspector Noah Sangut told the High Court in Mombasa.
He said the information came from Jane’s close female friend, the last person seen with her on February 7, 2025, at about 8.30pm before she disappeared.
The friend described a tense disagreement that left Jane unsettled. Investigators believe the meeting followed a strained relationship involving Owino, Alice and Jane, allegedly staged to calm her before she was killed.
Owino and Alice are jointly charged with murder, charges they deny. Inspector Sangut outlined events he said pointed to a planned killing and concealment of evidence.
On February 19, 2025, Sangut was summoned to his superior’s office where Owino was present. His boss said Owino had reported a missing person on February 10 under OB number 40/10/2/2025.
“My instructions were to help locate the missing person. I took details and recorded his statement,” Sangut said.
He said they parted at 7 am when she left for work in town as a waitress. That, he said, was the last time he saw her alive.
Sangut said he later accompanied Owino to Jane’s house on February 19, but found it locked. Neighbours were questioned, but Owino said he had no keys.
Jane Achieng Omullo, whose dismembered body was found stuffed in a sack in Likoni.
Photo credit: Pool
Owino then directed officers to other places Jane might be found, including a previous home she had vacated.
“I questioned a neighbour who said he did not know Owino. He mentioned a man called Rasta who visited Jane,” Sangut said.
On February 20, police visited an eatery where Jane had worked for only two days, between February 4 and 6.
The case took a grim turn in February 2025 when a human torso and body parts were found in a sack. The head, arms and legs were missing.
“At the mortuary, Owino refused to view the body. He was not surprised and remained sceptical,” he told the court.
When a head was later recovered in Kwale, Owino again showed no reaction.
After all parts were recovered, Jane’s family identified her through DNA after a post-mortem.
“I summoned Alice to record a statement, but she failed to appear, claiming illness,” Sangut said.
Village elder Aboubakar Faki testified that he was alerted when the body was discovered in a sack and informed the area chief, who called police.
“The body had no head. It was difficult to identify,” he said.
Witness Benedict Karoli told the court he had known Jane since 2024, when she worked at an eatery in Mwembe Tayari. She told him she had a child and a husband, though she did not name him.
“She said her child was in the village and her husband lived in Likoni,” he said.
Karoli said Jane later left the job due to pressure and asked for help finding work, which he facilitated through a hotel owner.
However, she later said her husband discouraged her from taking the job and promised to help her start a fish business instead.
“Around February, I saw her cousin post ‘Rest In Peace’. I was shocked,” Karoli told the court.
