A suspect connected to the murders of three women in Eastleigh, Nairobi, was presented in court on Monday.
The individual appeared at Makadara Law Courts, where a magistrate granted police permission to hold him for nine days while further investigations take place.
Authorities are actively searching for the primary suspect involved in the deaths of Amina Abdirashid, her aunt Waris Dahabo Daud, and her niece Nusayba Abdi Mohammed.
Police barred journalists from the courtroom, citing the need to conduct an identification parade before proceeding.
The court acknowledged the necessity of completing the investigation to determine the suspect’s involvement.
On the same day, Waris’s husband provided a statement to the police. Reports indicate that a man wanted for the murders had contacted the victims’ family to demand a ransom.
Investigators believe the suspect, originally from the Somali region of Ethiopia, acquired a Kenyan identification card unlawfully.
Previously a regional police officer in Ethiopia, he faced jail time for allegedly murdering his wife before fleeing to Kenya, where he established a taxi business in Eastleigh and Parklands.
Authorities suspect he had prior acquaintance with the victims and had engaged in extortion activities in Nairobi.
Evidence suggests that the 24-year-old suspect was driving a Nissan Note captured on CCTV picking up the women from their Eastleigh home on October 21, just hours before their bodies were found.
The car was later discovered abandoned at Wakulima Market and has been sent for forensic analysis, further tying the suspect to the case.
The DCI has urged anyone with information to contact their hotline or report to the nearest police station.
Preliminary findings indicate that the three women were killed over a ransom dispute with their abductors.
The suspect allegedly reached out to a family member in London, demanding money, but was dismissed, leading to the violent turn of events.
Investigators are also questioning four other persons of interest, including apartment security personnel and the property owner.
Additionally, a woman who claims to be a survivor and was held captive with the victims has come forward, sharing details about the ordeal and the ransom demand made by the kidnappers.
Her family reportedly managed to raise $7,000, which was sent to an Ethiopian bank account.
On October 21, 2024, the three women were reported missing, with their bodies found the following day at different locations, showing signs of severe violence.
A postmortem revealed that Waris had her neck severed and hands mutilated, while Amina died from a fatal stab wound to the heart, according to Chief Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor.
Eastleigh Murder Suspect Is Ethiopian, Contacted Family Of Slain Women For Ransom
Eastleigh Murder Suspect Is Ethiopian, Contacted Family Of Slain Women For Ransom