Nakuru mother says they raised alarm over form four daughter's boyfriend before fatal attack

A family in Molo, Nakuru County, had raised concerns about their daughter's relationship with her boyfriend before she was allegedly killed, the girl's mother has revealed.

The family is mourning 18-year-old Joy Wangui, a Form Four student at Molo Secondary School who was preparing to sit her 2026 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations.

Wangui's mother, Trizah Wairimu, said the family had reported their concerns about the relationship to the school before her daughter's death, but the circumstances surrounding the relationship remained a source of worry. Wairimu said she was away when Wangui was killed and returned home to the devastating news.

"My daughter was my firstborn. As a parent, I would love justice for my daughter. No one deserves to die because of love," she said.

The teenager's body was discovered in Kiambaa, Moto Location, where detectives also recovered several weapons believed to be linked to the incident. Police subsequently arrested 23-year-old Walter Kipkoech at a hideout in Lagwenda, Kuresoi North, as investigations into the death intensified.

According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Kipkoech was arrested wearing clothes that had visible blood stains. Detectives also reported that he was wearing a white T-shirt bearing the deceased's name near the hem.

The circumstances surrounding Wangui's death have left her family and the local community demanding answers as police continue with investigations.

Wairimu described her daughter as hardworking and academically gifted, saying she was a B student with ambitions of joining university after completing her secondary education. The mother urged parents and teachers to remain vigilant and intervene whenever they notice relationships or behaviour that could place young people at risk. She also appealed to young people to take seriously advice from parents and other trusted adults when concerns are raised about their relationships.

The suspect remains in police custody as detectives investigate the circumstances leading to Wangui's death.