Homicide detectives have detained two primary suspects in the double killings of Dutch tycoon Herman Rouwenhourst, 55, and his bodyguard Evans Bokoro, 23.
Following the Dutchman’s murder most vile, Timothy Omondi Ngoe alias Rashid, 22, and Mary Nekesa Ambani, 33, were arrested on June 4, 2021, at the luxury Rocco apartments in Shanzu.
Herman Rouwenhourst, who owned a number of hotels and nightclubs in Mombasa and Kilifi counties, was discovered deceased in his marital bed with several head injuries, his wrists and legs tied, and his mouth gagged.
His guard also died under similar circumstances bearing injuries similar to those of his employer. Investigations have revealed that the slain tycoon had notified His wife Riziki Cherono, of his intentions to divorce her following endless wrangles that had rocked their marriage.
However, Cherono didn’t take that lying down and hatched a plot to eliminate her husband, with whom they had two children aged 14 and 12.
Chilling Confession
On May 10, 2021, she constituted a meeting between the two suspects Rashid and Nekesa, a former manager in one of Rouwenhourst’s hotels.
In a chilling confession to detectives on how they planned and executed the murder, Nekesa disclosed that Cherono had earlier taken Rashid to their home on a recce mission to familiarize himself with the home.
To complete the finer details of the murder plot, Rashid took photos of the bedroom where the deceased was later found dead.
He was promised a handsome pay upon completion of the task, from money that the deceased kept in a safe in the couple’s bedroom.
Investigations have further revealed that on the fateful night of the murder, Cherono opened the door to their apartment letting in Rashid and other suspects still at large, to stage the cold-blooded murder.
After completing their task, they broke into the safe and took off with over Sh3 Million. Cherono was later found in the couple’s Toyota Probox around Serena hotel, in what detectives discovered to be a staged kidnapping.
Blunder
Two weeks after the murder, the prime suspect Timothy Omondi alias Rashid acquired a plot with proceeds from the murder, measuring 40x80ft at Kiembeni.
He constructed a four-roomed house at an estimated cost of over Sh1.5 Million and furnished it with newly acquired households items, worth over Sh500,000.
Further, Detectives recovered one live round of 9mm caliber, one bullet head of 9mm caliber, blood-stained shoes, a pair of handcuffs, several mobile phones, and SIM cards.
Forensic analysis conducted in our forensic lab placed Rashid at the scene of the murder in Shanzu and at around Serena, where Cherono and the vehicle were found.
The suspects will be arraigned in court tomorrow to answer murder charges.
