Rita Waeni Muendo, the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) student who met a tragic end, has been laid to rest at her family’s residence in Mukimwani Village, Kisau location, Makueni County.
In a somber ceremony attended solely by family members, Waeni was interred on Monday morning. The family expressed gratitude for the understanding and support received from their extended family, friends, colleagues, and the broader Kenyan community who shared in their grief.
“We find solace in knowing that our extended family, friends, colleagues, and fellow Kenyans who have joined us in mourning understand our decision,” conveyed the family. “We extend our heartfelt thanks for the support, contributions, and continuous prayers during this challenging time.”
The family also welcomed condolences for Waeni’s parents and the extended family.
Waeni’s tragic fate unfolded on January 14, 2024, in an AirBnB in the Roysambu area of Nairobi, where her suspected killer gruesomely dismembered her body.
Risper Muthoni, the manager of the apartment, shared that the alleged perpetrator had booked the room on Saturday, January 13, at 3 pm, and, according to the apartment policy, guests were entitled to an uninterrupted stay until the scheduled check-out time.
The unsettling discovery occurred the following day when the caretaker reported unusual findings, including polythene bags and a blood-soaked bed sheet on the staircase. Despite numerous attempts to contact the guest, the manager, along with her team, entered the unlocked room, finding everything seemingly normal except for blood stains at the door.
The Kasarani Police Station received a report, and the family later disclosed that Waeni had left her aunt’s house in Syokimau to meet a friend.
Upon investigation, officers discovered Waeni’s dismembered body without a head. The family conclusively identified the head on January 25, after its discovery at Kiambaa dam in Kiambu County during an autopsy conducted by Chief Government Pathologist Dr. Johansen Oduor. Dr. Oduor reported that the findings indicated Waeni died of strangulation before the brutal dismemberment.
On February 2, 2024, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) released Waeni’s body to her family. Two Nigerian nationals have been apprehended and arraigned in connection with this appalling act.
