21-year-old man kills his employer a month after resuming work; dumps her body in septic tank

Detectives have arrested a 21-year-old man, Victor Ambeyi, for killing his employer at her home in Nyathain, Kasarani area of Nairobi, Kenya.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations-DCI in a statement on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, said the suspect attempted to cover up the crime by wrapping the deceased’s body in a blanket and hiding it in a septic tank within the compound. 

The victim, Catherine Waceke Kimotho, 78, went missing on Saturday while at her home. 

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

On Sunday evening, detectives found the body wrapped in blankets and submerged in a septic tank. 

She had been k!lled, and visible injuries were found on the back of her head, suspected to have been inflicted by a blunt object.

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, the suspect was arrested while hiding at his cousin’s house in Kinoo, Nairobi. Both were taken into custody.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Ambeyi had been employed as a casual worker at the deceased’s home for a month before he k!lled her. 

During interrogation, he admitted to attacking the elderly woman on Saturday after being paid less than the amount they had agreed upon. 

“A 21-year-old man believed to have murdered his employer (Ms Catherine Waceke Kimotho) on Sunday, November 10 at Njathaini area of Kasarani has been arrested. The suspect, Victor Ambeyi, was smoked out of his hideout in the Valley area of Kinoo in Kiambu County,” the statement read. 

“In the sad incident reported at Njathaini Police Station, the deceased’s body was discovered sprawled at her homestead, and the suspect, a casual labourer at the home, was missing.

“Acting on intelligence, DCI officers from Nairobi regional headquarters proceeded to Kinoo, where the suspect was being harbored by his cousin, Collins Seda Wanjau, 22. The two were arrested.

“After interrogating the suspects, detectives furthered the investigation to Githurai 44, where they recovered the mobile phone of the deceased at a phone repair shop belonging to 22-year-old Benjamin Kimani Mwaura. He was also taken into custody.

“The three suspects have been booked at Kasarani Police Station ahead of their arraignment tomorrow, as detectives seek to unearth the motive behind the heinous murder.”