Two KDF officers arrested over brutal murder of UoN student
Mercy Kwamboka who was a student at the University of Nairobi (UoN), Chiromo Campus. Courtesy photo
Detectives have arrested two(2) military officers in connection with the murder of 26-year-old Mercy Rufansi.
Mercy was reported missing from her parents' home in Pipeline, Embakasi, on September 28, 2024, just hours after she abruptly left the house.
Her partially clothed body was discovered in a thicket near the Eastern Bypass in Mwiki the following day at around 4pm.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, DCI Director Mohamed Amin revealed that the two(2) soldiers, stationed in Embakasi, were the last known individuals to have had contact with Mercy.
"The search for Mercy tragically ended when her lifeless body, partially undressed and showing signs of physical assault, including bruises on her thighs, lower back, and left ankle, was discovered," said Mr Amin in a statement.
According to the police, a black blouse, blanket, and mobile phone were found at the crime scene.
The arrests followed an intensive manhunt by detectives from Kasarani sub-County, which spanned several weeks.
According to DCI, on the night Mercy disappeared, she was picked up in a Mazda vehicle by the main suspect, who drove her to his residence in Komarock.
"While in the parking lot, a disagreement erupted, leading to a confrontation in which the suspect physically assaulted Mercy, ultimately causing her death," DCI said.
The suspect then contacted an accomplice to assist in disposing of her body.
"Through forensic tracking, detectives managed to apprehend the suspects from their respective hideouts in Komarock estate and Tononoka area in Embakasi," it added.
The suspects are currently in custody at Kasarani Police Station, awaiting arraignment on Thursday (today).
Mercy was a second-year student at the University of Nairobi's Chiromo Campus.
A postmortem revealed that she had sustained broken legs, bruises on her gums, and burns on her hands.
Her family noted that on the night she disappeared, she had received a phone call before abruptly leaving the house.
Eyewitnesses later reported seeing a vehicle near the location where her body was discovered.
