Detectives in Kisumu West have recovered the decomposing body of a 21-year-old female student from RIAT College, bringing a tragic end to a disappearance that had sparked anxiety among her family and the local community.
The discovery was made in Riat Forest during a coordinated operation involving officers from Maseno Police Station and Riat Police Post.
The recovery followed the earlier arrest of the prime suspect, identified as Steven Coleman Okoth, who is believed to be central to the events leading up to the student’s death.
Investigators allege that the suspect orchestrated a series of actions that culminated in the victim’s disappearance on the night of April 5, 2026, in the Milimani area of Kisumu.
According to preliminary findings, the victim sustained multiple stab wounds, as observed on the recovered body. Authorities have indicated that forensic analysis will play a key role in determining the full circumstances surrounding her death as investigations continue to unfold.
The events leading up to the incident paint a deeply distressing picture. On the night of her disappearance, concern first arose when the victim’s elder sister was unable to reach her through repeated phone calls.
What initially appeared to be a case of poor network connectivity soon escalated into alarm when a message eventually came through shortly after midnight.
The message suggested that the student had been in the company of two male colleagues from the same institution earlier that evening. From the information received, she appeared to have been in a vulnerable state and had indicated she was in distress.
Shortly afterward, her phone went offline, cutting off any further communication and intensifying fears about her safety.
Following the report, detectives from Kisumu West Sub-County launched an immediate and thorough investigation. Using forensic tools and digital tracking, they were able to trace her last known movements to the Milimani area, near the Kenya Wildlife Service offices. Despite an extensive search in that area, the victim was not located at the time.
Breakthroughs in the investigation came after detectives pursued critical leads that led them to identify a key suspect. The individual, described as the victim’s former boyfriend, had reportedly been seen with her on the night she went missing. Investigators also uncovered reports of prior threats allegedly made by the suspect toward the victim over a period of two months, raising concerns about a possible pattern of harassment.
At the time of his arrest, the suspect was found in possession of items considered important to the investigation. These exhibits are currently being analyzed as part of efforts to reconstruct the sequence of events and identify any additional individuals who may have been involved.
The suspect is now in custody and is being processed for arraignment in court, as detectives continue to pursue other possible accomplices believed to be connected to the case. Authorities have emphasized that investigations are ongoing and have urged anyone with relevant information to come forward.
The case has sent shockwaves through Kisumu and beyond, reigniting conversations around student safety, gender-based violence, and the need for stronger preventive measures. As the legal process begins, attention now turns to ensuring that justice is served and that the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident are fully uncovered.
