Detectives have arrested the prime suspect in the murder of 25-year-old Joy Kanini Gathu after an intelligence-led manhunt ended in Timau, Meru County.
Police said the suspect, John Nderitu Mureithi, was found with the deceased's mobile phone and later admitted to killing, dismembering and dumping her body in different locations in an attempt to conceal the crime.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said Mureithi was arrested on the night of July 10 along the Nanyuki-Isiolo Road while allegedly attempting to flee to neighbouring Uganda, bringing to an end an intensive search by detectives from the Homicide Investigations Bureau.
According to the DCI, officers searched the suspect immediately after his arrest and recovered four mobile phones, including Joy Kanini Gathu's handset, which has since been secured as a key exhibit in the investigation.
The suspect was later booked at Kiganjo Police Station.
During interrogation, detectives established that a confrontation between Mureithi and the deceased inside his house in Ngangarithi Estate, Nyeri, on June 9, 2026, turned fatal.
Investigators further established that after the killing, the suspect allegedly dismembered the body before disposing of the remains in different locations in what police described as a deliberate effort to conceal the crime.
"Investigations further established that the suspect later dismembered the body and disposed of the remains at different locations in a calculated attempt to conceal the crime and frustrate investigations," the DCI said in a statement.
Police said the suspect is expected to appear in court on Monday, July 13, where detectives will seek custodial orders to allow them to complete investigations before charging him.
The DCI said the recovered mobile phone belonging to the deceased would form part of the evidence as investigators continue piecing together the circumstances surrounding the killing.
Extending its condolences to the victim's family, the agency pledged to pursue justice through a thorough investigation.
"The Directorate of Criminal Investigations extends its heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Joy Kanini Gathu and remains steadfast in its commitment to conducting thorough, fair and impartial investigations to ensure justice is served," the statement read.