Murdered student, parents hadn't met for months

Vivian Mideva, a 22-year-old student at Mt Kenya University who was found murdered in a maize farm in Nakuru. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

Parents of the 22-year-old university student murdered in Nakuru early this week said she had not visited her home for more than five months.

Although the late Vivian Kajaya lived in a rented house in Thika town, a few kilometres from her parent’s abode in Nairobi’s Kawangware estate, she told them that she had a busy academic schedule denying her a chance to visit.

Her father Patrick Nzeze revealed that Kajaya, a student at Mount Kenya University, spoke well about her education progress the last time she visited. 

“The last time we came face to face with her was in April this year. She had come home in Kawangware and told us all was well with her studies,” said Nzeze.

The family is now seeking justice for their daughter, who was raped and her body dumped in a maize plantation in Hill View Estate in Kiamunyi, Nakuru, on Monday.

Nzeze described her as an obedient child dedicated to her education and a good example to her younger siblings as she was the firstborn.

Family of Vivian Mideva, a 22-year-old student at Mt Kenya University who was found murdered in a maize farm in Nakuru on Monday, addresses the press alongside other family members. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

Eunice Mideva, her mother, revealed that she last spoke to Kajaya on October 12, 2024, questioning why she had not travelled home for long.

“We had a brief chat on the phone that Saturday. She told me that on Saturdays she does private studies in the university library and laundry on Sundays,” said Mideva.

She was however shocked to learn that it was on the same Saturday that Kajaya traveled from Thika to Nakuru for a mission yet to be established.

Mideva says she received the sad news from her sister.

“I got the information on Tuesday evening. I have positively identified her body. Her death pains me. She was not supposed to be anywhere in or near Nakuru,” Mideva said yesterday.

According to her, Kajaya was a hardworking child who was committed to transforming the family’s life.

“I have educated her by roasting maize in Kawangware. Every time we spoke, she promised to get me off that job,” said Mideva.

Everlyne Imbosa, the deceased’s aunt said that they may not have found out what had befallen their child were it not for media reports.

“We have no relatives in Nakuru. She lives in Thika, her parents in Nairobi, and the rest of us in Nandi,” said Imbosa.

The shaken parents identified her body on Wednesday evening at the Nakuru PGH Annex morgue where it is being preserved pending postmortem.