DCI detectives arrest man linked to Joy Kanini’s murder
By David Nthua, July 12, 2026Detectives have nabbed a man linked to the killing of 25-year-old Joy Kanini Gathu following an intelligence-led operation that ended in Timau, Meru County.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said on X on Sunday, July 12, 2026, that the person of interest was apprehended along the Nanyuki–Isiolo Road on the night of Friday, July 10.
According to the agency, the man was reportedly travelling towards Uganda when officers from the DCI Homicide Investigations Bureau caught up with him, bringing an extensive manhunt to an end.
“Detectives from the DCI Homicide Investigations Bureau have arrested the prime suspect in the brutal murder of 25-year-old Joy Kanini Gathu, bringing to an end an intelligence-led manhunt that culminated in Timau, Meru County,” the DCI stated.
Phones recovered
A search conducted immediately after the man was apprehended led detectives to four mobile phones.
The DCI said one of the devices was Joy Kanini’s phone, which has since been secured as a key exhibit in the ongoing murder investigation.
The person of interest was later booked at Kiganjo Police Station as detectives continued piecing together the circumstances surrounding Kanini’s death.
Fatal confrontation
Preliminary investigations by the DCI indicate that Kanini and the person of interest were involved in a confrontation inside a house in Ngangarithi Estate, Nyeri County, on June 9, 2026.
Detectives said the confrontation turned fatal.
The agency further stated that Kanini’s body was later dismembered and the remains disposed of at different locations.
According to investigators, the disposal of the remains was intended to conceal the killing and make it difficult for detectives to establish what had happened.
“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.
The details remain part of an active investigation and are yet to be tested before a court.
Court appearance
The person of interest is expected to be presented before the court on Monday, July 13, 2026.
Detectives will seek custodial orders allowing them more time to complete investigations, analyse the recovered mobile phones and establish the full sequence of events surrounding Kanini’s death.
The DCI said its investigators would conduct a thorough, fair and impartial inquiry to ensure all evidence connected to the case is secured and presented before the court.
The agency also extended its condolences to Kanini’s family and friends following her death.
“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 reads.