Nairobi: Man kills employer over pay dispute, dumps body in septic tank

Detectives have arrested a murder suspect accused of killing a 78-year-old woman who had employed him as a casual worker at her home in Nyathain, Kasarani.

After committing the crime, the suspect attempted to cover it up by wrapping the deceased’s body in a blanket and hiding it in a septic tank within the compound.

Catherine Waceke Kimotho, 78, went missing on Saturday evening while at her home in Nyathain, Kasarani. At the time she was reported missing, she had been at home with one of her male casual employees.

Her family said efforts to trace her were unsuccessful, as her mobile phone was switched off, and they could not locate her whereabouts.

Police were notified, and investigations began to track her movements. In a surprising development, it was discovered that a male employee at the home was also missing, and his mobile phone was switched off as well.

A search was mounted in the compound and the surrounding neighbourhood, but with no success.

On Sunday evening, detectives found a female body wrapped in blankets and submerged in a septic tank on the property. The septic tank, which was located near a cow shed, had been covered to conceal the body.

When the body was recovered, it was positively identified by the family as that of Catherine Waceke Kimotho. She had been killed, and visible injuries were found on the back of her head, suspected to have been inflicted by a blunt object.

The suspect, identified as Victor Ambeyi, had been on the run since committing the crime. The deceased’s body was taken to Kenyatta University Funeral Home as a manhunt for the suspect was launched.

A team of detectives, led by Kasarani DCIO Justus Ombati, along with their counterparts from the Criminal Research and Intelligence Bureau at Nairobi Area, swung into action.

After forensic analysis and following a trail, Ambeyi was arrested while hiding at his cousin’s house in Kinoo, Nairobi. Both Ambeyi and his cousin were taken into custody.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Ambeyi, born and raised in Kakamega County, had been employed as a casual worker at the deceased's home for a month before he killed her.

He admitted to attacking the elderly woman on Saturday after being paid less than the amount they had agreed upon. He expressed regret for committing the crime, and his attempt to dispose of the body in the septic tank was his way of covering it up.

Investigators also recovered the deceased’s mobile phone at a local shop in Githurai 44, where the suspect had sold it.

The shop owner, who had purchased the phone without proper documentation, was also arrested.

Ambeyi has since been detained at Kasarani Police Station, awaiting court proceedings, along with his two accomplices.