A 16-year-old girl was brutally murdered in Mukuru Kwa Njenga, allegedly at the hands of her stepfather, Wycliffe Barongo Nyabuti, on Sunday.
The suspect has been arrested and faces charges of murder and sexual assault following claims that he had been repeatedly raping the victim.
According to the victim’s mother, Regina Nkatha, Barongo had purchased the murder weapon—a knife—two weeks prior.
Witness reports indicate that he stabbed the teenager multiple times in the stomach, chest, and hands, committing the heinous act shortly after the family left for church.
“He turned up the volume on the television to drown out her cries for help,” lamented Mary Gacheri, the victim’s aunt.
Joy, the victim, was preparing for church when the attack occurred. Her mother revealed that she had long harbored suspicions about Barongo’s inappropriate behavior.
“I sensed he wanted to abuse my daughter, but I never anticipated he would go this far,” Nkatha expressed with grief.
Neighbors reported hearing distressing noises and later found Barongo at the scene, where he threatened one resident with the same knife.
A mob formed, seeking retribution for Joy’s death, but police intervened and rescued Barongo, who is currently detained at the Embakasi police station.
Joy’s body has been taken to the city mortuary, awaiting an autopsy while family and friends demand justice for the young girl whose life was cut tragically short.
