By Dorothy Musyoka
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Homicide Directorate have arrested a suspected serial killer believed to be behind the gruesome murders of two young women in Thika, Kiambu County.
Samuel King’ara Kimani, the man alleged to be responsible for the killings, was apprehended on April 14, 2025, in the Ngomongo area following coordinated investigation by the DCI Homicide team and Thika-based detectives.
The arrest follows weeks of fear and anguish in the Thika community after two young women were found murdered under eerily similar circumstances.
The nightmare began on March 17, 2025, when 22-year-old Rosemary Njeri Ndekei disappeared after leaving for Thika town to shop for clothes.
The following day, a decomposing body was discovered by locals in a coffee plantation in the Karibaribi area.
“The first case unfolded on March 17, 2025, when 22-year-old Rosemary Njeri Ndekei vanished minutes after heading to Thika town to shop for clothes. Her disappearance sparked concern, leading to a missing person report being filed at Thika Police Station by her boyfriend and relatives,” explained the DCI.
Without any identification, the body was taken to General Kago Mortuary, where it was confirmed on March 19 to be Rosemary.
An autopsy revealed she had suffered manual strangulation and blunt force trauma to the head brutal signs of a violent end.
Just two weeks later, 20-year-old Hellen Wambui Ndung’u, a student at Gituamba Vocational Training College, vanished on March 31, 2025, after going to buy food at the nearby Ngorongo Trading Centre.
According to the detectives, her body was found the next day in a bush, partially buried under soil, with no visible injuries. Neighbours recognized her and notified the family.
“And just like in the case of Rosemary, the following day her body was discovered in a bush, partially covered with soil. The body had no visible injuries, and neighbours identified her as the missing girl,” noted the detectives.
Alarmed by the striking similarities between the two cases, detectives launched a full-scale investigation using forensic analysis and the Exchange Principle a forensic.
“Utilising forensic leads and the Exchange Principle, the team trailed and arrested the prime suspect, Samuel King’ara Kimani, at Dry area of Ngomongo on April 14, 2025,” added the DCI.
Preliminary investigations by the detectives, indicate that in both cases, King’ara stalked his victims in secluded areas, dragged them into coffee plantations, and subjected them to sexual assault before killing them.
King’ara was arraigned in court on April 16, 2025, where detectives successfully obtained custodial orders to continue investigations and gather more evidence.