Bahati Horror: Woman beheaded, police searching for missing head as husband, daughter vanish

A family in Bahati, Nakuru County, is seeking justice following the brutal murder of their kin, whose mutilated body was discovered dumped in bushes at the Maili Kumi area, in a case that has left residents in shock and fear.

Jackline Awuor, a 30-year-old security guard attached to Protective Custody Security Ltd, was found dead under horrifying circumstances, her body beheaded and abandoned, with her head still missing. 

Her family says the killing was not only gruesome but also deliberate, and they are now calling on authorities to act swiftly and bring those responsible to justice.

According to Bahati Sub-County Police Commander Charity Karimi, the incident was first reported at around noon after the deceased failed to report on duty, raising alarm among her employers.

“On Sunday noon, we received a report from the manager that one of their employees had not reported on duty. A search was immediately launched, leading to the grim discovery of   Jackline's body in a quarry within Bahati Ward, near Maili Kumi. Officers from Bahati Police Station responded and retrieved the body, however the head is still missing,” Karimi says, noting that efforts to recover the missing body parts are ongoing with the help of local residents.

The discovery has devastated the family, with Jackline's eldest sister, Ann Atieno, recounting the painful moment they identified her remains.

“We found her lying on the ground in her work clothes soaked with blood and boots still on. Her arms and legs were outstretched, and she had no head. That is how we knew it was her,” Atieno says.

She explains that the family had earlier received a distress call after Jackline failed to report to work and was neither being at home, prompting them to trace her last movements. Their search ended in tragedy at the quarry.

Preliminary investigations have pointed to a suspected domestic dispute. Reports shared to the Police by the family note that Jackline had been in an abusive relationship for the past four years with her partner who they identified as Evans Abuti, a 35-year-old man.

“It was established that the lady had been living with the boyfriend, and they had ongoing domestic issues. The suspect had allegedly threatened to kill her if she left him, although no formal report had been made to the police,” Karimi states.

The family corroborates these claims, alleging that the suspect had previously been violent and had repeatedly demanded money from the deceased whenever her salary was in. According to Atieno, Jackline had been advised to report the threats and incidents of abuse, but no formal complaint had been filed before her murder.

Atieno notes the last information they got from the police is that the man is believed to have escaped to Kakamega. 

“The man is at large, but, We are optimistic that he will be arrested and brought to face the charges,” Atieno says.

Meanwhile, the case has taken a more distressing turn after it emerged that Jackline's three-year-old daughter is missing. The family believes the child was taken by the suspect shortly after the incident, and her whereabouts remain unknown.

“We do not know where the child is. We are just praying that she is safe,” Atieno notes.

As investigations continue, the family is appealing to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and all relevant authorities to expedite the case, locate the missing child, and ensure justice is served.

“This is too painful. We want justice for our sister, and we want her child found and to anyone who comes across the head of my sister please alert the police so that our sister could be laid to rest,” Atieno says, as the Bahati community remains gripped by fear over the shocking killing.

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