One year after construction worker Sammy Kyengo was found dead at the Talanta City Stadium construction site in Nairobi, investigators have yet to arrest a suspect, with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) still awaiting toxicology results as it seeks to establish what led to his death.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen told the Senate that 11 people linked to the construction site had been questioned and their statements recorded, but none had provided information that had advanced the investigation.
“As at now, no suspect has been arrested in connection with the death of Mr. Kyengo,” Murkomen said.
The 35-year-old casual worker was reported missing on September 10, 2025, after failing to return home from work. His body was recovered three days later after another casual worker reported seeing a body floating in a water sump behind the terraces under construction.
The matter was raised in the Senate by Makueni Senator Daniel Maanzo, who sought details on the circumstances surrounding Kyengo’s death, the progress of investigations, whether any suspects had been arrested and the support given to his family.
Murkomen said a missing person report was made at Jamhuri Police Station on September 10, 2025, at about 4:27pm after Kyengo failed to return home.
On September 11, police circulated a missing person signal to stations across the country as efforts to locate him continued.
The following day, September 13, a casual worker at the stadium construction site reported seeing a body floating inside a water sump situated behind the terraces.
Police officers went to the site, documented the scene and retrieved the body.
A preliminary examination showed injuries to the back of the head. The remains were later identified as Kyengo, who had reportedly gone missing from the construction site on September 6, 2025, at about 5pm.
The body was taken to the Nairobi Funeral Home for preservation and a post-mortem examination.
Post-mortem points to drowning
A post-mortem conducted on September 16, 2025, established that Kyengo had mild head injuries.
According to Murkomen, the pathologist concluded that the cause of death was consistent with drowning, although decomposition had limited the examination.
“Specimens were collected during the post-mortem and forwarded to the Government Chemist for toxicological analysis, and the results are still pending,” Murkomen said.
Investigators are relying on the toxicology findings to obtain further information that could help establish the circumstances surrounding Kyengo’s death.
The DCI has also examined Kyengo’s mobile phone records as part of the investigation.
Murkomen said the analysis showed that Kyengo’s last communication was with his father on the morning of September 6, the day he went missing.
CCTV footage has also proved difficult to use in the investigation.
The Interior CS said cameras were installed at the construction site, but the internal camera that could potentially have captured what happened had been disconnected because of ongoing roof installation works.
Footage from the gate camera was also reviewed but did not provide useful information to investigators.
11 people questioned
Murkomen said 11 people connected to the construction site had been interrogated and their statements recorded as investigators sought to piece together Kyengo’s final movements.
However, he said none of those questioned had provided information that had significantly advanced the inquiry.
The DCI is continuing to analyse the statements already recorded, review forensic evidence and pursue other available leads as it waits for the toxicology report.
The findings will help investigators determine whether any individuals should be treated as persons of interest based on evidence emerging from the inquiry.
Murkomen said the government would take appropriate action once investigations were completed and culpability established.
Family kept informed
The National Police Service has maintained communication with Kyengo’s family throughout the investigation, according to Murkomen.
He said the family had been updated at different stages of the inquiry as the authorities sought to maintain transparency and confidence in the process.
“The National Police Service has maintained regular communication with the family of the late Mr. Kyengo and has kept them informed at every stage of the investigations,” Murkomen said.
The CS said the Ministry of Interior remained committed to conducting thorough, impartial and professional investigations into unexplained deaths.
He assured the Senate that appropriate action would be taken once the inquiry was concluded and the evidence established.
“The Ministry remains committed to ensuring thorough, impartial, and professional investigations into all cases of unexplained deaths and will ensure that appropriate action is taken once investigations are concluded,” Murkomen said.