Kenyan police have arrested a man found carrying mutilated body parts in his backpack, which he claimed belonged to his 19-year-old wife.
The suspect, 29-year-old John Kiama Wambua, was stopped by officers patrolling the Huruma district, east of Nairobi, early in the morning.
Upon searching his backpack, officers discovered the body parts and were horrified by the gruesome discovery, according to Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
During questioning, Wambua reportedly confessed that the remains were those of his wife, Joy Fridah Munani. The DCI stated that Wambua appeared “unfazed” by the discovery and interrogation.
Following his arrest, Wambua led police to his home, where additional body parts were found hidden under a bed, alongside a knife and blood-stained clothes.
The DCI labeled the crime as “heinous” and confirmed that Wambua would face murder charges in court.
This case highlights the troubling rise in femicides in Kenya, a country with one of the highest rates of gender-based violence in Africa.
Between August and October 2024, the National Police Service reported that at least 97 women were murdered.
Protests against femicide have intensified in recent years. In December, hundreds of women marched in Nairobi to condemn violence against women, but the demonstration was met with teargas from police.
Kenya has experienced several high-profile cases of gender-based violence. In September 2024, Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei was killed by her former partner after being set on fire. Earlier in the year, Rita Waeni was dismembered and placed in a plastic bag, sparking widespread outrage.