Kenyan police on Wednesday arrested a 29-year-old man, John Kiama Wambua, after discovering the mutilated body of his 19-year-old wife, Joy Fridah Munani, in his backpack.
The shocking incident occurred around 5:00 am (0200 GMT) during a routine patrol in Nairobi, where officers initially suspected Wambua of carrying illegal goods. To their horror, they found human body parts in the bag, according to Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
Police described Wambua as “unperturbed” by the gruesome discovery. During questioning, he admitted to killing his wife and led officers to their home. There, investigators uncovered a blood-soaked scene, including more human remains hidden beneath a bed and the suspected murder weapon, a sharp knife. However, authorities noted that some body parts were still missing.
This case comes just weeks after women protesting femicide in Nairobi were tear-gassed, highlighting the growing crisis of gender-based violence in Kenya.
In November, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights reported 97 murders of women over three months, underscoring the grim reality of domestic violence in the country.
Kenya has witnessed a series of high-profile femicides, including the brutal murder of Ugandan Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei, who was set alight by her boyfriend, and the tragic deaths of athletes Agnes Tirop and Damaris Mutua, both victims of domestic abuse.
Police have launched a murder investigation into Wambua, as calls for justice and stronger measures against femicide continue to grow.
