Fear grips Eastleigh after murder of three family members

A section of Eastleigh community protested over the murder of three family members on October 24, 2024. [Pkemoi Ng'enoh, Standard] 

There was a standstill in Nairobi’s Eastleigh, Kamukunji Sub-County as traders and locals joined hands in protest following the murder of three people from the area.

The mutilated bodies of the three women were discovered at three separate locations in Machakos, Parklands, and Bahati in Nairobi on Tuesday. 

Severed hands believed to have been dismembered from one of the victims were later found in South C.

Unlike before, all the shopping malls and stalls in the neighbourhood remained closed in solidarity with the families of the victims as they pushed the police for quick action.

The residents and witnesses who spoke to The Standard said this is the first time such an incident was witnessed in Eastleigh and has left many in shock and grief.

“This is unheard of in our community, more so killing of women in such a brutal manner. We suspect that it could be something to do with business rivalry or something to do with family but how they were killed is shocking,” resident Asha Abdi stated.

Area Member of Parliament Yussuf Hassan who joined the protestors said the three were mother, her daughter and her niece.

“The Eastleigh community is utterly devastated today, the neighbourhood is mourning over the terrible calamity that has befallen us the murder of three women,” the MP said adding, “This has never happened before and therefore there is fear, there is panic and I call upon the police and security authorities to act very quickly and restore the confidence of the community.”

Hassan said this will ensure that common lives are protected and the security of all the people of Eastleigh and Nairobi is secured and to make sure that the suspects are brought to book and punished.

“It is terrible to lose three members of the public the way we have lost the lives and more shocking is that their bodies were mutilated, they have been tortured and we suspect that they were raped,” Hassan added.

A section of Eastleigh community led by area Member of Parlaiment Yussuf Hassan protested over the murder of three family members on October 24, 2024. [Pkemoi Ng'enoh, Standard] 

About the matter, KANU chairman Gideon Moi regretted that the country is witnessing a deeply disturbing and heartbreaking surge in brutal murders.

“These rampant femicide cases and macabre killings, abetted by the now-commonplace abductions, are creeping back into the country and striking at the very core of our sense of security as a nation,” Gideon stated.

The former Baringo Senator said no one should live in fear, and no Kenyan should ever feel unsafe walking on the streets or going about their daily lives,”

He appealed to the government to step up its efforts to guarantee the safety and security of every Kenyan adding that there must be a renewed focus on securing public spaces and improving law enforcement.

“Every Kenyan has the right to live without fear, and the government must ensure this right is protected at all costs, “he added.

Earlier, Hassan and Nairobi Senator Edwin engaged with Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja over the murders.

“They have been murdered shockingly and it troubling that there are people who can do such things to human beings and more so from the same family,” Sifuna stated.

“Such cases are becoming common and it is worrying if we are safe, it is unfair that this is being witnessed yet we have security agencies, why are all these happening without anyone’s knowledge,” he questioned.