Residents of Kiambaa in Molo woke up to a shocking murder of an 18-year-old student at their home.

The body of Joy Wangui was discovered inside her patents house in Kiambaa with her severed head found in a corridor leading to the other rooms on October 4,2026.

The deceased, identified as Joy Wangui, was a form four student at Molo secondary school, according to police and residents.

Molo Sub-county Police commander Justus Katana says officers responded to a report made by the deceased’s brother after he found his sister lying lifeless inside the house.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the killing, with the suspect believed to have been known to the deceased and her family.

Molo Sub-county Police commande Justus Katana during an interview on October 5,2026 on the murder of Joy Wangui

Katana says the suspect is currently on the run, with officers from Molo Police Station and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations pursuing leads to establish his whereabouts.

“The boy is currently on the run and once caught he will be arraigned in court,” Katana said.

The discovery has left residents of the area shocked, with many gathering near the scene as police began processing the crime scene.

A resident Charles Njenga said the discovery was made after the deceased’s brother returned home at around midday. He noted that the boy had been at a nearby shop where he works before returning home, only to be met with a horrific scene.

Njenga says the main entrance to the house was locked, forcing the boy to use a second door at the back of the house.

“Here, the deceased brother was met by the horrific scene of his sister’s lifeless body, with her head lying in the corridor. He then alerted the police, prompting officers to visit the scene,” Njenga said.

Residents in Molo Sub-county at the crime scene.

Photo credit: MUTHONI WANJIKU/MTAA WANGU

The shocking discovery has left residents struggling to understand how the teenager met her death inside a home where she lived with her family.

Nyumba Kumi elder Paul Mwangi says Joy’s mother called him to accompany her to the house after she noticed police officers in her compound.

Mwangi says the mother had briefly stepped away from home to bid farewell to guests she had hosted before returning to the devastating news.

“At the house, police found an axe, panga and knife, tools they believe the young man used to end Joy’s life.,” Mwangi says, calling for swift investigations to establish what happened.

The discovery of the weapons has added to the concerns among residents as detectives work to reconstruct the events leading to the teenager’s death.

The suspect is believed to have fled after the incident, prompting police to launch a search for him.

Katana says investigators are working to locate the suspect, who will subsequently face court proceedings once apprehended.

The motive for the killing remains unclear, with police yet to establish what happened before the teenager was killed. However, residents have sparked concern over violence in relationships and the safety of young women, citing this case as a close love triangle murder.

For residents who gathered at the scene, the death of the 18-year-old student has left more questions than answers, as police continue with investigations and the search for the suspect.

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