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2 nabbed over spate of attacks on Laikipia varsity students

Detectives moved in following a spike in attacks targeting Laikipia University female students

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by EMMANUEL WANJALA

Realtime18 October 2024 - 21:23

In Summary


  • The arrest comes days after the body of a female student at the Mt Kenya University was found dumped in a maize plantation
  • Police said the 22-year-old appeared to have struggled with her killer(s) before she was overpowered.


Two suspects have been arrested following a spike in attacks targeting female students of the Laikipia University-Main Campus

The two men are in police custody pending arraignment.

DCI boss Mohamed Amin said in a statement Friday evening that the arrest followed a swoop by a team of detectives drawn from the Criminal Research and Intelligence Bureau and the Operations Support Unit at DCI Headquarters, Nairobi.

“The suspects have been handed over to DCI Nyahururu for processing and subsequent arraignment,” Amin said.

According to the chief spy, the two suspects are believed to be the masterminds behind a chilling spree of robbery incidents targeting female students at the university located along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway.

He said the detectives moved in after multiple reports were filed at the Losogwa police station in Nyahururu Subcounty, detailing harrowing accounts of female students being ambushed, assaulted and stripped of their valuables.

“Following a meticulous investigation, the detectives tracked down and apprehended the two prime suspects in Mai Mahiu, Nakuru. During the arrest, a mobile phone stolen from one of the victims was recovered,” Amin said.

The arrest comes days after the body of a female student at the Mt Kenya University in Thika was found early Monday morning dumped in a maize plantation in Nakuru’s Kiamunyi area.

A receipt found in Vivian Kajaya's handbag showed that she had left Thika town for Nakuru on Saturday afternoon, barely 48 hours before her murder.

Police said the 22-year-old appeared to have struggled with her killer(s) before she was overpowered.

Meanwhile, DCI detectives on Friday arrested a gang of violent robbery suspects believed to be behind a spate of criminal activities within Nakuru’s Eveready area.

The officers from Nakuru Central police station recovered a Ceska pistol and a magazine with 12 rounds of ammunition from the suspects during the arrest.

The gang of seven was arrested at a house in the Soilo area, Nakuru West subcounty, after being tipped off by area residents.

“The Directorate of Criminal Investigations extends its gratitude to the members of the public for their invaluable information in combating crime. This collaborative effort highlights the power of community vigilance in combating crime and ensuring the safety of all residents,” Amin said.

He said the suspects are in custody as investigations continue to facilitate their arraignment.


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