When Roy Wanyonyi opened the door to his old home in Webuye, dust swirled through the air and silence lingered in the once-vibrant living room. The white lace covers still carefully draped over the armchairs told a story of a family that had once gathered, laughed, and lived here. But now, grief hangs heavy in every corner.
It had been over a year since Wanyonyi and his wife, Maximilla Mwanga, had last visited the house. That visit had also marked the final time they saw Wanyonyi’s daughter, Tiffany Wanyonyi, alive.
Tiffany, a police officer based in Nairobi, had traveled back to Webuye in March 2024 following the death of her grandmother. She had come to mourn, support her family, and pay her final respects. Friends and relatives recall seeing her cheerful at the funeral, warmly sharing memories of her grandmother’s life. Later that evening, she left the gathering with her husband.
She never made it back to Nairobi.
The following morning, Wanyonyi received a phone call that shattered his world. It was the local police commander delivering unimaginable news: Tiffany had been killed.
“My head just went dizzy,” Wanyonyi told CNN in a recent interview. “I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.”
The shock deepened when Wanyonyi and Mwanga arrived at the morgue to identify her body. Mwanga broke down as she recalled the horrifying sight. “The way I found my daughter… was not easy,” she said. “She was in two pieces: her head and the body.”
The man now accused of Tiffany’s brutal murder is her husband, Jackson Ololtele. He is currently facing trial and has entered a plea of not guilty.
Tiffany’s death has struck a raw nerve across the country, highlighting the growing crisis of violence against women. It serves as a chilling reminder that even women in uniform trained and armed to enforce the law are not immune to intimate partner violence.
According to recent reports, Kenya has seen a worrying spike in gender-based violence. Human rights organizations and women’s groups continue to call for stronger legal protections and support systems for victims.
Back in Webuye, Tiffany’s family remains heartbroken, struggling to come to terms with the loss. Her children are now left without their mother, and her parents are left seeking answers and justice.
As the trial proceeds, many hope that Tiffany’s case will not only bring justice to her family but also serve as a wake-up call for the country to urgently address the rising tide of violence against women.
By Faith Mwende
