Makadara Law Court on Thursday, February 15, released two Nigerians who were held in police custody over the murder of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) student Rita Waeni.
During the court proceedings, the prosecution noted that investigations were still ongoing over the murder.
The magistrate, however, released the two Nigerian suspects from police custody with a caveat.
In its ruling, the court ordered the two suspects to appear before the detectives investigating the case once a week.
The court had initially detained the two Nigerian nationals to allow the police to conclude investigations into the case.
Police arrested the duo on January 21, 2024, at an apartment in Ndenderu, a few metres from where Waeni's head was found dumped.
The detectives also recovered several items including a hatchet, butcher's knife, three laptops, six mobile phones, a Kenyan national identity card and ten sim cards among other items.
Police suspected that the hatchet was the weapon used to commit the heinous crime.
Following their arrest, Magistrate Mwangi declared the duo a flight risk and ordered that they should be detained to allow the detectives to complete investigations.
Waeni's murder gained nationwide attention over the spate of femicide cases that had increased in the recent past.
The kin's family revealed that the suspect had demanded Ksh500,000 ransom to release their daughter but upon failure to meet the demand, their daughter was killed and her body dismembered.
On February 5, 2024, the student was buried in a low-key ceremony at Mukimwani Village in Makueni County. During the burial, Waeni's family demanded for justice to be served.
" We thank everyone for their support and contributions and for constantly praying for us. We also welcome those who may want to pay their condolences to continue doing so,"Lillian Mutea, Waeni's aunt and family spokesperson stated.
