Jane Achieng Omullo, whose dismembered body was found stuffed in a sack in Likoni.
Jane Achieng Omullo, 26, called her mother on February 6, 2025 from Mombasa, saying she wanted to discuss something with her.
Two days later, the fishmonger disappeared and her family began searching for her.
On February 8, part of a dismembered body was found stuffed in a sack in Likoni.
Her mother travelled from Homa Bay County to Mombasa to ascertain if the body belonged to her daughter.
Detectives directed her to conduct a DNA test whose results recently came out, indicating that the body was indeed Jane.
“I knew the body belonged to my sister. I told my mother to come to terms with it even as we waited for the DNA results, which proved my worst fears,” said her youngest sister, Norah Atieno Omullo, 21.
Norah last saw her Jane last November – Jane picked up Norah from Kaya Tiwi Secondary School after completing her Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam, and took her to board a bus to their home in Homa Bay.
Norah has been staying at their rural home with their mother, a widow, but often communicated with Jane on phone.
“She promised she would come home in January, but when the month ended she pushed the date to the following month. Then, on February 6, she called our mother at night saying she wanted to tell her something after crossing the Likoni ferry channel. That was the last [we heard from her],” she said.
When they didn’t hear from her after that day, the family began posting Jane’s photo on social media as her other relatives in Mombasa searched for her.
Two days later, an unidentified woman’s body was discovered in the Mrima area of Likoni Constituency in the morning, with the head, palms, and legs missing.
Norah’s friend sent her the photos of the woman’s body.
“There and then, I knew it was my sister’s body. I told my mother to accept reality. Our brother gave us a fare and we travelled to Mombasa. We were taken to Kwale where her head was found, the other parts of her body were taken to Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital,” she said.
The family is appealing to the killers to return the missing body parts so they can bury her whole.
“We only have her head and upper body part. You’ve tormented us, it’s enough please just dump the remaining parts anywhere we come to fetch them. We need peace,” Norah said.
She said Jane was their mother’s confidant and adviser, and that their mother is devastated.
“She spends her days and nights crying. Whoever did this to my family please, do not do it to another woman,” said Norah.
The family said Jane's phone is yet to be traced.
The family’s spokesperson, Mr Anthony Odhiambo, called on well-wishers to help them ferry the body to Homa Bay for burial. The mortuary bill stands at Sh40,000.
“Our child was killed in the most inhumane manner ever. We want justice; we want closure. Investigators should help us unravel this matter. It is sad that to date no suspect has been arrested,” he said.
Mr Odhiambo said it is sad that many young people are disappearing and later being found dead.
“Who is killing our children? Why?” he asked during a funeral preparation meeting in their Migadini home, Changamwe Sub-county.
Jane is survived by a four-year-old.
A post-mortem was conducted on February 28, which revealed that she was strangled before her body were severed.
Mombasa County Police Commander, Mr Peter Kimani, said police are pursuing suspects linked with the killing.
Jane’s death comes as human rights activists have raised an alarm over the increasing cases of femicide in the country, calling on the government to take immediate action.
“It is heart-breaking to see a woman’s body in such a state. We want to see suspects behind bars. Femicide cases are rising every day, yet we do not see any serious action being taken. How long will we keep fighting for the protection of women?” asked Naila Abdallah, a Mombasa rights activist.
She called for a thorough investigation, urging authorities to bring the perpetrators to book.
Ms Essy Adhiambo, the executive director at Initiative For Equality And Non Discrimination, urged President William Ruto to end femicide in the country.
“Violence against women in Kenya, including femicide, remains alarmingly high. The statistics are deeply troubling, and they represent real lives and real suffering. We also need stronger laws and more effective enforcement to hold perpetrators accountable,” she said.
Ms Adhiambo said President Ruto committed funding to support anti-femicide initiatives, but there has been little action following these declarations.
