Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested the prime suspect in the brutal murder of 25-year-old Joy Kanini Gathu, bringing to an end an intelligence-led manhunt that spanned weeks.
The suspect was arrested on the night of July 10, 2026, in Timau, Meru County, along the Nanyuki–Isiolo Road, while allegedly attempting to flee to Uganda.
According to the DCI, officers recovered four mobile phones during a search conducted immediately after the arrest, including the deceased's handset, which investigators say will serve as a key exhibit in the ongoing case.
The suspect was later booked at Kiganjo Police Station.
In a statement released on Sunday, the DCI said investigations established that a confrontation between the suspect and Joy inside his house in Ngangarithi Estate, Nyeri, on June 9, 2026, turned fatal.
Detectives further established that after the killing, the suspect allegedly dismembered the victim's body and disposed of the remains at different locations in what investigators described as a calculated attempt to conceal the crime and frustrate investigations.
"The suspect is expected to be presented before court
tomorrow, Monday, July 13, 2026, as detectives seek custodial orders to
facilitate completion of the investigation," the DCI said.
The arrest marks a significant breakthrough in a case that shocked the country because of its gruesome nature.
Joy's dismembered remains were discovered on June 11, 2026, stuffed inside a sack in Nyeri County. At the time, several body parts were still missing, prompting an intensive search involving detectives and members of her family.
A postmortem examination later established that she died from excessive bleeding.
The search for the missing remains continued for days before additional body parts were recovered from a pit latrine, deepening the horror surrounding the killing.
The suspect is alleged to have gone into hiding immediately after the incident, triggering a nationwide manhunt by homicide detectives.
In the aftermath of the killing, Joy's grieving parents publicly recounted their final moments with their daughter, describing how they had trusted the man who was allegedly responsible for her death.
The family said the suspect misled them during the search for Joy, taking them "round in circles" while allegedly concealing what had happened.
They also spoke of the anguish they endured while trying to identify their daughter's remains due to the extent of the dismemberment.
Joy was the daughter of Bishop Peter Gathu, whose family has been mourning what they described as a senseless and brutal loss.
The suspect is expected to appear in court on Monday, where detectives will seek orders to continue holding him as investigations into the murder are completed.
