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Homicide detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested Mary Mwikali Kabuu who is suspected to have killed her German tourist lover in Malindi on Monday.

Mwikali, 32, was arrested at a club in Diani area of Kwale on Thursday evening where she is alleged to have run to hide after allegedly killing 78-year-old Deterring Herman. 

Police said the woman was the prime suspect in the murder.

She was driven to Mombasa where she spent the night at the Central Police Station before being moved to Moriema Cottages in Malindi on Friday morning where she is suspected to have committed the murder. 

Herman was found dead in his hotel room on Tuesday evening.

The tourist had been on a drinking spree with the woman and they are reported to have gone to bed together at around 1am on Monday night. 

An officer privy to the arrest said that Mwikali was driven to a police station in Mombasa where she is being held and it is not clear whether she will be arraigned in a Mombasa court or ferried to Malindi. 

DCI confirmed the arrest through an alert on its Twitter handle saying the suspect will be charged with murder. 

“The 32-year-old Mary Mwikali Kavuu, the prime suspect in the Brutal Murder of a 78-year-old German national Mr. Detering Herman on 28th January, 2020 has this evening been arrested at Diani in South Coast by detectives based at the Headquarters. Suspect placed in custody,” the post on @DCI_Kenya read.

“Further investigations ongoing to establish the motive behind the appalling killing. Forensic analysis that had placed the suspect at the Scene of Crime led the police handling the case to her hideout in Diani, triggering her arrest. Suspect to be arraigned once necessary police procedure is complete,” the DCI went on.  

The victim’s  body was found in his room by a receptionist, who reported the incident to the police. 

A team of homicide detectives from Nairobi were led by Martin Nyuguto.

The investigators who visited the hotel room with the suspect yesterday sealed off the scene of crime as it tries to unravel how the tourist was executed.

However, Nyuguto said he was not authorised to speak to the media.

The team at the scene also comprised officers from the Government Chemist, forensic unit and a representative from the German Embassy in Nairobi.