Police have recovered a human head at Kiambaa dam in Kiambu County.
The law enforcement officers believe the head is that of university student Rita Waeni, whose mutilated body was recovered at a short-stay residential area in Roysambu, Nairobi, a week ago.
A missing mobile phone that belonged to the deceased was also recovered at the scene.
Speaking to journalists on Sunday evening, Kiambaa police commander Pius Mwandhi confirmed the incident, saying investigations are underway.
The dismembered body of the 20-year-old Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) student was discovered at an apartment along TRM Drive in Roysambu on Sunday, January 14, 2024.
According to Waeni's family, the fourth-year student was lured by his killer to the residential area before she was murdered in cold blood.
In a statement, the family said the killer demanded Ksh500,000 ransom for her release.
According to the family, Waeni left home to visit a friend. However, on Sunday at around five in the morning, the father received a message from her daughter's phone number, demanding Ksh500,000 as ransom.
The message directed that money be sent within 24 hours.
Later, the family reported the matter to the police for investigation.
“With this message, the family reported the matter to the police and DCI, and investigations began,” the family stated in a statement noting at least two more messages demanding a ransom were sent.
According to the family, they were not given time to respond to the messages and maintains more messages were sent after she was killed.
“Unfortunately, the family did not get further details about the ransom or an opportunity to explore this route. Additionally, some demands were made when she had already been murdered,” the family said.
“We believe she was lured by her killer, who also tried to extort money from her family, even after killing her,” the family added.
Waeni's body parts were discovered inside a trash bag in the apartment by the caretaker with her head missing.
Police have since arrested three suspects who are helping them with investigations.
