Missing RIAT Student Found Dead in Kisumu Forest, Suspect Arrested

Missing RIAT Student Found Dead in Kisumu Forest, Suspect Arrested

Detectives in Kisumu County have launched a comprehensive investigation following the discovery of the body of a 21-year-old student from Ramogi Institute of Advanced Technology, who had been reported missing earlier this month.

The body was recovered in Riat Forest by officers drawn from Kisumu West Sub-County, Maseno Police Station and Riat Police Post, according to a statement issued by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

Authorities confirmed that the body was found in a decomposing state and bore multiple stab wounds, pointing to a violent attack.

“The recovery of the body bearing knife stab wounds follows the earlier arrest of the prime suspect believed to have orchestrated her gang rape, torture and subsequent disappearance,” the DCI said in a statement, adding that the incident is believed to have occurred in Kisumu’s Milimani area on the night of April 5, 2026.

The grim discovery came shortly after detectives apprehended a key suspect, described as a former boyfriend of the victim, who is now in custody as investigations continue.

According to investigators, the case began when the student sent a distress message to her sister after unsuccessful attempts to make phone calls due to poor network connectivity. In the message, she reportedly indicated that she had been lured into a drinking session with two male acquaintances before being assaulted.

Her phone went off moments later, raising alarm and prompting family members to report her disappearance to authorities.

Detectives say early leads, including digital forensics and intelligence tracking, helped trace the victim’s last known location to the Milimani area near Kenya Wildlife Service offices in Kisumu. Initial search efforts in the vicinity did not yield results, necessitating an expanded operation that eventually led to the recovery of the body in the nearby forest.

Further investigations reportedly pointed to a pattern of threats directed at the victim in the weeks leading up to her disappearance. Police allege that the suspect had repeatedly visited her residence at RIAT and had issued threats over a period of approximately two months.

Authorities also indicated that the suspect was seen in the company of a heavily intoxicated woman on the night in question, believed to be the victim shortly before she went missing.

“Investigations have established that the suspect had issued threats to the victim and was last seen with her on the night she disappeared,” a senior officer familiar with the case said.

During the arrest, officers reportedly recovered items believed to be relevant to the investigation, although details of the evidence have not been publicly disclosed. Detectives are now working to establish whether additional suspects may have been involved in the incident.

The suspect remains in police custody and is expected to be arraigned in court as investigations intensify.

The case has sparked outrage among residents and students in Kisumu, with renewed calls for enhanced security measures and swift justice for victims of gender-based violence.

Local leaders and civil society groups have urged authorities to ensure a thorough and transparent investigation, emphasising the need to hold all those responsible accountable.

As detectives piece together the final moments of the student’s life, the tragic incident underscores growing concerns over safety, particularly among young people in learning institutions, and highlights the urgent need for strengthened protection mechanisms and community vigilance.

The DCI has appealed to members of the public to come forward with any information that may assist in the ongoing investigation.

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Missing RIAT Student Found Dead in Kisumu Forest, Suspect Arrested