Prime suspect arrested as detectives recover body of missing riat college student in Kisumu forest

Detectives in Kisumu West have recovered the decomposing body of a 21-year-old female student from RIAT College in Riat Forest, days after she was reported missing under disturbing circumstances.

The discovery was made by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations working alongside police from Maseno Police Station and Riat Police Post.

Authorities confirmed that the body bore multiple stab wounds, pointing to a violent death.

The grim recovery follows the earlier arrest of a prime suspect, identified as Steven Coleman Okoth, who is believed to have orchestrated the victim’s gang rape, torture, and eventual killing.

The incident reportedly occurred in Kisumu’s Milimani area on the night of April 5, 2026.

According to investigators, the victim’s disappearance was first flagged by her elder sister after several unsuccessful attempts to reach her by phone.

“What began as failed phone calls quickly turned into a nightmare,” an officer involved in the probe said.

The family’s fears were confirmed after a distressing text message was received late that night, indicating that the student had been lured into a drinking spree by two male colleagues.

“She was left incapacitated, sexually assaulted, and later abandoned in a bush in critical condition,” detectives revealed, adding that her phone went off shortly afterward.

A multi-agency investigation was launched immediately, with forensic analysis leading officers to the victim’s last known location near the Kenya Wildlife Service offices in Milimani. However, initial searches did not locate her.

Breakthroughs in the case came after detectives identified and arrested Okoth, who is said to have been the victim’s former boyfriend.

“Investigations revealed that the suspect had issued threats to the victim over the past two months and had been seen with her on the night she disappeared,” police said.