Suspect in murder of Nyeri businesswoman Kanini to be detained for 21 days

John Ndiritu Muriithi, the prime suspect in the murder of Nyeri businesswoman Joy Kanini, will remain in police custody for 21 days following a court ruling on Monday.

Nyeri law court ordered Muriithi, alias Tizo, to be held at the Kiganjo Police Station to allow detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to conclude investigations and conduct a mandatory mental assessment.

Senior resident magistrate Mary Gituma said the case is scheduled for mention on August 4.

Police intercepted Muriithi last week, during an operation at Timau along the Nanyuki-Isiolo road.

At the time of his capture, the suspect was in transit toward neighboring Uganda, actively aided by his family to escape an intensifying police dragnet.

The arrest follows a probe into the killing of 25-year-old Kanini, a well-known local entrepreneur and graduate of Nyeri National Polytechnic.

Investigating officers established that the murder took place inside a residential house in Ngangarithi estate, within Nyeri town, where Kanini was last seen alive visiting the suspect before she vanished.

Inside the rental property, the suspect allegedly attacked Kanini, killing her before chopping her body into pieces to conceal the crime.

Sacks containing parts of the victim’s dismembered body were later found dumped along the Nyeri-Karatina highway.

To gather forensic evidence, DCI detectives subsequently excavated a septic tank at the Ngangarithi estate property, recovering additional human remains believed to belong to the deceased.

Investigators also recovered a blood-stained panga, believed to be the murder weapon, inside the rented house.

Muriithi, who initially joined Kanini's family in searching for her to deflect suspicion, fled into hiding as soon as the mutilated remains were identified.

Intelligence teams tracked his movements through Laikipia County before laying a successful ambush in Timau under the cover of darkness.

 Detectives confirmed that the family members who funded and orchestrated his flight now face potential charges for aiding and abetting a fugitive.