DETECTIVES RECOVER DECOMPOSING BODY OF RIAT COLLEGE STUDENT, PRIME SUSPECT ARRESTED

Detectives in Kisumu West, working alongside officers from Maseno Police Station and Riat Police Post, have recovered the decomposing body of a 21-year-old female student from RIAT College in Riat Forest, following her earlier reported disappearance.

The body, which bore multiple stab wounds, was discovered after the arrest of the prime suspect, identified as Steven Coleman Okoth. Authorities believe he orchestrated the gang rape, torture, and eventual killing of the victim. The incident is reported to have occurred in Kisumu’s Milimani area on the night of April 5, 2026.

According to investigators, the ordeal began when the victim’s elder sister grew concerned after repeated attempts to reach her failed due to poor network connectivity. Her fears were confirmed around midnight when a distressing text message was finally received.

In the message, the victim revealed that she had been lured into a drinking spree by two male colleagues from the same institution, leaving her incapacitated. While in that vulnerable state, she was sexually assaulted and later abandoned in a bush in critical condition. Shortly after sending the message, her phone went offline.

Detectives from Kisumu West Sub-County launched an intensive investigation, using forensic analysis to trace the victim’s last known location to the Milimani area near the Kenya Wildlife Service offices. Initial search efforts, however, did not yield results.

A breakthrough came after sustained investigations led to the identification and arrest of one suspect, believed to be the victim’s former boyfriend. He was reportedly seen with the heavily intoxicated victim on the night of her disappearance.

Further inquiries revealed that the suspect had issued threats to the victim over the past two months and had repeatedly visited her residence in Riat in search of her.

At the time of his arrest, detectives recovered crucial exhibits believed to be of evidenti