Parents in Nairobi are still in fear despite the fact that police arrested 20-year-old Masten Wanjala in connection with the kidnapping and killing of 10 innocent children.
Wanjala was arrested on Tuesday, July 14, for kidnapping and subsequent murder of two children who went missing in Nairobi’s Buru estate. After his arrest, Wanjala led detectives to where he had buried the bodies of 13-year-old Charles Opindo and 12-year-old Junior Mutuku. The bodies were found on Wednesday, July 14.
Wanjala who confessed to killing the two children told the police that he had killed at least 10 children in a span of a few years – adding that he had committed his first murder when he was only 15 years old.
Innocent boy and girl
A statement from the DCI read thus: “The predator was barely 16, when he executed his first victim five years ago. Purity Maweu, a 12-year-old girl was the first to fall prey to the killer. The young girl was kidnapped from Kiima Kimwe in Machakos and her blood sucked by the killer, before being left for dead.
Adding: “Three years later in Kamukuywa, Kimilili, a 13-year-old boy only identified as Aron, was brutally murdered by the killer, who recounted to detectives the gory details of how he killed the innocent boy. Aron’s killing led to protests in Kamukuywa, with residents torching a house belonging to a person whom they suspected to have killed the boy.”
Parents – even those who have not lost their children are in pain – and fear that there could be more people like Wanjala out there. The vivid description Wafula gave the police on how he had executed the murders has shocked the whole country.
It’s inhuman
“How can a human being do this to a child! How?” Tina, a parent in Nairobi told Mwanahabari.co.ke.
“I am no longer going to just allow my children to go out there without proper care,” added Janet who has a three children aged 9, 11 and 14 years.
“I feel sorry for mothers who lost their children in this fashion. This man is possessed. The full force of law should be applied. I also urge the government to enhance surveillance in estates to ensure children are safe even at their playgrounds,” added a parent who did not wish to be named.
Ksh30,000 and Ksh50,000 ransom
Wanjala reportedly killed Opindo and Mutuku after demanding Ksh30,000 and Ksh50,000 ransom.
The suspect has led the detectives to two more bodies – after the discovery of the decomposing bodies of Opindo and Mutuku.
The third body retrieved from a river in Lower Kabete hours after the two bodies were recovered in a thicket near Kabete Approved School.
More bodies are likely to be retrieved as Wafula continues to help with investigations.
242 children
According to a report by Missing Child Kenya, 242 children aged 18 and below were reported missing between January and December 2020; 125 girls and 117 boys.
“A total of 131 children were found and reunited with their families, 16 have recently been found, 10 were found dead while 18 are still missing,” the report said. From 2016 to 2020, a total of 780 children were reported missing. Of those, 496 were found, 73 were taken to government-run children’s homes, 21 were found dead and 190 are still missing.