Kenyans on X Rush to Verify Suspected Serial Killer Collins Jomaisi’s Identity
Key takeaways
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- Collins Jomaisi Khalisia was arrested by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in the early Monday morning in the Kayole neighborhood of Nairobi.
- The 33-year-old man is suspected of having committed the murders of over 40 Kenyans, with some of their bodies discovered at the Kware dumpsite.
- The discovery of the rotting bodies around Mukuru slums in Nairobi has left the country reeling in shock and seething in anger.
- DCI’s disclosure of the suspected killer’s identity has sparked controversy, with netizens arguing that they have apprehended the wrong person.
- Kenya’s renowned “Twitter DCI” unit initiated a separate investigation into the suspect’s photograph, with claims that the photo provided by the DCI belongs to someone else.
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The gruesome Kware Murders
In what has been described as another tragic chapter in Kenya’s history, numerous murdered Kenyans have been discovered in Nairobi’s Mukuru slums.
Kenyans watched in horror as one body after another was pulled out of a water-logged dumpster.
The seemingly abandoned quarry is tucked a few kilometers away from the Nairobi City Center at Kware, within Mukuru slums.
Reportedly young women’s, bodies were at various stages of decomposition and badly mutilated.
The bodies were discovered in the back of intense anti-government protests which have led to tens of Kenyans losing their lives.
More than 30 Kenyans are also still missing in the aftermath of the recent countrywide demos.
Reminiscent of the recent Shakahola Massacre and the widely reported Githurai killings, the killings at Kware have again put the government under heavy scrutiny.
Kenyans especially those online are increasingly skeptical of government which struggles for trust among the citizens.
DCI Arrests Suspected Mukuru Serial Killer
In a bid to win back the confidence of the Kenyan people, the government through the DCI swung into action to bring the perpetrators of the shocking murders to book.
The seemingly well-coordinated operation bore early fruits as DCI apprehended a suspect, barely five days after the bodies’ discovery.
In an operation conducted by DCI’s Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau (CRIB) and Operational Directorates, detectives picked up Collins Jomaisi Khalisia outside a club in Nairobi’s Kayole area.
Mr. Khalisia had reportedly just finished watching the Euros 2024 final before he walked into the waiting hands of detectives.
Khalisia then led detectives to his house where several items were seized including:
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- Airtel SIM Cards
- 8 Smartphones
- A machete
- Two flash drives and a memory card
- 6 ID cards for men and 2 ID cards for women
“The suspect confessed to having lured, killed, and disposed of 42 female bodies at the dump site,” said DCI Director Mohammed Amin in a media briefing.
Netizens Clash With DCI on Collins Jomaisu Khalisia’s Photo
Director Amin’s statement and the suspect’s photo were also posted on the DCI’s official social media handles.
Social media users including popular tweep Francis Gaitho have heavily disputed the alleged photo of the suspect.
According to Mr. Gaitho, the photo used by DCI in the arrest announcement belongs to another Kenyan named Jairus Okundi.
“It’s a desperate move meant to pacify the restless masses who have voted that Ruto must vacate office,” writes Gaitho in an explosive tweet.
His post led to outpouring tweets calling for the self-styled investigative unit known as Twitter DCI to investigate the matter.
Larry Madowo, a prominent journalist also joined the fray asking, “How did a Kenyan “Vampire” kill and dump 42 women’s bodies near a police station for 2 years?”
“Tech giants are many. Dig up everything about this name and photo, share it here, and cross-reference it with what DCI told us. We can easily do that. Name: Collins Jomaisi Khalisia,” writes @Mancitymyth.
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The backlash to DCI’s statement on the high-profile arrest demonstrates the people’s enormous mistrust of the Kenyan government.
As parallel investigations by authorities and online crime enthusiasts continue, Kenyan Gen Zs look to hit the streets again on Tuesday to protest.
