Police in Kisumu are pursuing suspected gangsters who reportedly raped and murdered a 42-year-old woman inside a building shared by two NGOs.
Caren Anyango’s body was found in a pool of blood in an office block in Riat where she worked as a support staff and caretaker for both the Community Initiative Action Group (CIAG-K) and Transparency International (TI).
The mother of one lived in a room inside the office complex. Her teenage son was away at the time of her death.
Police said their preliminary investigations indicated that Anyango had been gang-raped. She was also hit with a blunt object before being stabbed in the Monday night attack.
Absalom Oketch, a brother of the building’s owner who is also employed by one of the NGOs as a driver, said he filed a report at Riat police post after finding Anyango’s lifeless body.
Two NGO directors, Chris Owalla and Titus Ogalo were in shock as they led police around the compound on Tuesday.
Inside the blood-splattered room, a three-seater sofa was lying on top of Anyango’s bloody body.
“It was grisly. We still do not know what happened and why this lady was murdered in this manner. It is disturbing. She was a good, disciplined worker,” said Mr Owalla.
The directors confirmed that the killers had ransacked the offices and stolen three laptops, probably after killing the woman.
Police also retrieved a kitchen knife that may have been used in the attack.
Residents in nearby buildings denied hearing any commotion during the attack.
Speaking to The Standard, County Criminal Investigations Officer Kipkorir Towett said the assailants entered the compound during the night.
“They had broken into the building when they realised that the caretaker was making phone calls so they broke into her room and beat her,” Mr Towett said, adding that they had recovered the phone and taken it to be examined.
Anyango’s mother, son and other relatives who arrived at the scene were inconsolable as they watched Anyango's body being loaded onto a police vehicle. Towett said the body was taken to Jaramogi Odinga Oginga Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary.
