Police have opened investigation into the gruesome murder.
The mysterious deaths of women, mostly college and university students, in Nakuru have left their families devastated and the public demanding answers.
Months after these tragic incidents, no conclusive arrests have been made in most of the cases.
The macabre killings marked by sexual violence and a disturbing lack of progress in investigations have also become a chilling reminder of the vulnerabilities young women face and the possible gaps in Kenya’s justice system.
But how do murderers vanish without a trace in a world with technology and surveillance?
Why do some investigations stall, leaving victims' families clinging to hope for answers that never come? Are crime scenes being mishandled or is systemic inefficiency hindering justice?
Such pressing questions from the victims’ relatives expose the chilling reality of unresolved crimes and the obstacles sleuths face in piecing together evidence to hold perpetrators accountable.
Eileen Cherotich, a 22-year-old student from the Rift Valley Institute of Science and Technology, was last seen alive on July 14 after a night out with friends. The next morning, her lifeless body was discovered near the Eveready roundabout along the Nakuru-Eldoret highway.
Eileen Cherotich, a second-year human resources student at the institution, was found dead near the Eveready roundabout on the Nakuru-Eldoret highway.
Ms Cherotich, a second-year human resource student, had been in the company of three others before her tragic end.
Despite initial progress in the case including the arrest of two suspects, they were later released for lack of sufficient evidence.
According to Nakuru West sub-county Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) boss Charles Kamau, two suspects who were with the deceased are now helping the officers with the investigations.
However, after sending the investigations file to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Renson Ingonga, a recommendation was made that they be released due to lack of evidence linking them to Ms Cherotcih’s death.
According to Mr Kamau, detectives are still in hot pursuit of the prime suspect who is still at large.
“He is yet to be arrested after committing the heinous crime as he went into hiding. We later traced him to Nairobi, and laid our traps but after noting that he was being traced, he moved to Nyahururu. We are yet to get contacts in Nyahururu. His days are numbered, we will arrest him for the family to get justice,” said Mr Kamau in a phone interview.
But Ms Cherotich’s family has been left in limbo.
Her cousin Gedion Kipkemoi said that they have never received any information regarding the case and only living with the hopes that her killer will be apprehended for the family to get justice.
“I was a regular visitor at the police station following up, but every time, I received negative feedback. When two suspects were arrested, we thought there was hope, but they were later released. We leave it to God,” said said Mr Kipkemoi.
Barely a month after Cherotich’s death, Nakuru was struck by another shocking murder.
Vivian Kajaya, the 22-year-old student at Mt Kenya University whose body was found dumped in a maize plantation in Kiamunyi, Nakuru County on October 15, 2024.
Vivian Kajaya, a 21-year-old third-year student at Mount Kenya University, was pursuing a degree in social work and administration. She was last seen alive in the company of a man before her body was discovered on August 15 in a maize plantation in Kiamunyi, Rongai Sub-County.
Government pathologist Titus Ngulungu confirmed that Ms Kajaya had been strangled and sexually assaulted.
Investigators have since traced her stolen phone and believe the prime suspect fled to Thika. Rongai Sub-County DCI boss Donnata Otieno explained that while detectives have recorded witness statements, progress has been slow.
“The suspect has not been arrested. I am headed to Thika for investigations. We suspect that is where he went into hiding after committing the crime. The suspect also made away with her mobile phone which has been switched off since then. We have recorded statements from crucial witnesses,” she said.
But Ms Kajaya’s mother Eunice Mideva has been relentless in seeking justice.
Ms Eunice Mideva, mother of the late Vivian Kajaya, speaks to the media at Salgaa Police Station on October 16, 2024.
She provided detectives with key leads including the identity of a man who accompanied her firstborn daughter to a hospital and hotel before her death.
Yet, months later, the trail has gone cold.
She also said after travelling to Nakuru, Ms Kajaya and the man visited a hotel within Kiamunyi area before her lifeless body was discovered in a maize plantation.
“Since I buried her, I have never heard anything about my daughter’s case. I am still wondering if I will ever get justice for her death. I am sure they left their details at the hospital they visited. I wonder if all those places the two visited had no CCTV or even visited the hotel and tried asking if they knew the man who was with my daughter. I am sitting wondering why there has not been any breakthrough in the investigations, I strongly feel that I am being discriminated against for my background and lack of social status,” she told Nation.Africa.
In a separate incident that happened in December 2022, 21-year-old Angeline Mary Wangui’s body was found stuffed in a sack near Ngata Bridge, a day after attending a party in Kabarak.
A post-mortem conducted on the body of the woman who was to pursue Medicine and Surgery at the Kenya Medical Training Institute (KMTC) indicated she died of suffocation and had been sexually assaulted.
After a month of intensive investigations, a suspect, Micah Kiprotich who was on the run, was smoked out of his hideout in Uasin Gishu County on January 12, 2023.
He was presented at the Molo Law courts under miscellaneous application on January 13, where detectives requested 14 days to conclude investigations. They were granted and were held at the Menengai Police Station.
On January 27, the suspect was arraigned in court but the investigative officer requested for a further two weeks saying that they were yet to conclude their investigations.
Later the suspect appeared in court on February 13, 2023, and detectives asked for a further seven days to conduct investigations.
Interestingly on March 29 the investigative officer sought for seven more days saying that they were yet to receive forensic results from the Government Chemist in Kisumu.
The case was slated to be mentioned on April 12.
However, Wangui's father, James Maina, who is yet to get justice over his daughter’s murder has since raised questions on how the Investigating officer kept on asking for more days to complete the investigation.
He said that since then Mr Kiprotich has never been charged in court.
According to him, the investigative officer dragging the case by seeking more days was a tactful manner to frustrate the case and the family to give up.
“I really tried following up on the case. I could attend court sessions but each time they could just ask for more days. I was demoralised and left it at that point. I have never heard anything about it. I was almost sinking into depression. I do not think I will ever get justice over my daughter's death," Mr Maina said.
In the last four months, Nakuru’s Rongai Sub-County has gained notoriety for gruesome murders targeting women.
Among the most chilling cases was the arrest of 19-year-old Ezekiel Sakwa Mwangi, charged with the murders of four women between July and August 2024.
Ezekiel Sakwa Mwangi, 19 is taken to Molo Law Court on August 20, 2024 accused of multiple killings in Rongai, Nakuru.
The victims included banker Florence Mueni Mwalimu on August 6 at Kalyet village, Alice Ayuma on July 13 at Mwangaza village, Virginia Njeri Mwangi on August 5 at Menengai Prayer Cave and Viollah Moraa Mogambi at Baraka Estate.
Mr Sakwa, who pleaded not guilty, was denied bail due to his history of escaping from probation centres. Nakuru High Court Judge J. Nang’ea cited compelling reasons to keep him in custody.
Mr Sakwa is also said to have escaped twice from the Kimumu probation Hostel Centre in Eldoret where he was serving a one-year probation sentence.
He is also said to have run away from his father’s home in Timboroa.
“Considering the severity of the charges and the accused’s history of escaping custody, there are compelling grounds to deny bail. The accused has not rebutted these claims. Further considering that he is facing serious charges that attract a sentence if convicted I find that these are compelling grounds to deny bond/ bail,” ruled Justice Nang’ea.
The prosecution, however, opposed the application on the above-stated grounds which the judge agreed with.
He was remanded at the Nakuru GK Prison pending a hearing and determination of the case.
A detective privy to the investigation told Nation.Africa progress has been hindered by compromised crime scenes, insufficient forensic evidence and a lack of cooperation from witnesses.
The detective explained in some instances, crime scenes are tampered with before investigators arrive, making it difficult to gather crucial evidence.
“Forensic analysis requires time, and witnesses are often reluctant to come forward due to fear of reprisals,” the detective said
This lack of cooperation is especially troubling in a region where community-based intelligence could play a pivotal role in cracking these cases.
