Suspect in the Rape and Murder of a 23-Year-Old Kenyan Waitress Arrested

Joseph Kinyua Murimi, the prime suspect in the rape and murder of 23-year-old hotel worker Velvine Nungari Kinyanjui has been arrested.

Murimi is said to have met Velvine at Ruiru’s Destiny Park where she worked as a waitress and asked her out on a date two days later.

On February 23rd, the suspect picked Velvine at Kirigiti and drove to Q West Restaurant in Kahawa West for drinks and later to Kijito restaurant on Kamiti Road. 

The two later proceeded to Sinnot Hotel in Kiamumbi where they booked a room at 10:30 pm but Murimi left an hour and a half later. 

He allegedly told a hotel attendant that he could not spend the night there since he was a married man and that he was leaving Velvine in the room to rest as she was tired. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the suspect left with Velvine’s mobile phone.

The next day, Velvine used the hotel’s phone to call a female friend, requesting her to come with another person and take her to the hospital.

The two hired a taxi and took Velvine to Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral, and Research Hospital and later filed a report of the incident at Kiamumbi Police Station.

Velvine spent several days at the hospital undergoing treatment for spine-related complications and cervical fractures but she died on March 9th.

An autopsy conducted on March 11th revealed that she developed compression fractures on her vertebral column and succumbed to collapse of the lungs.

Before Velvine died, Murimi had been charged with rape and released on a Sh100,000 cash bail.

On Friday, a Kiambu court allowed police to hold the suspect for 10 more days pending the completion of investigations and arraignment to plead to murder charges.

Velvine was buried on March 17th in Saba Saba, Murang’a County.