Two individuals, identified by Kenyan police as Nigerian nationals, have been arrested as additional suspects in the murder and mutilation case of 20-year-old student Rita Waeni.
The dismembered remains of the victim were found in rubbish bags at a short-term rental apartment in Nairobi on January 14.
The suspects, William Ovie Opia and Johnbull Asbor, appeared in court but have not been charged or asked to comment.
The murder, which has sparked public outrage, is part of a larger issue prompting calls for action against violence targeting women.
Alongside the two Nigerian suspects, four Kenyans and an individual with a Mozambican passport are in custody in connection with the case.
The police discovered items, including a butcher’s knife and a small axe believed to be used in the killing and mutilation, at the suspects’ apartment. Mr. Opia claimed he bought the axe online for self-defense.
The two men were apprehended in Ndenderu, located about 20km from Nairobi, where the police recovered a head suspected to belong to Ms. Waeni, along with her phone and some missing items.
However, the family has been unable to identify the recovered head.
It was revealed that the perpetrators demanded a ransom of 500,000 Kenyan shillings ($3,100) from the family even after Ms. Waeni’s death.
The gruesome nature of the crime has sparked shock and condemnation, leading to planned nationwide demonstrations by human rights and feminist groups protesting against what they perceive as a surge in femicide and violence against women.
A survey conducted in 2022 indicated that at least 34% of women in Kenya reported experiencing physical violence at some point in their lives.
Source-BBC
