The vibrant life of a 23-year-old woman has been extinguished in a chilling act of domestic terror, allegedly at the hands of a man sworn to protect. In a grim discovery that has sent shockwaves through Nairobi’s Mihang’o estate, Ann Muthoni Ngunjiri was found brutally murdered in her apartment, sparking a nationwide manhunt for her lover, a General Service Unit (GSU) officer.

The discovery on Monday morning was the tragic culmination of a volatile romance that had long worried those closest to the couple. Muthoni, described by friends as a spirited young woman with "a vision of going far," was found lying in a pool of blood in her Kayole residence. She had been stabbed multiple times, her life ended in a frenzied attack that police believe occurred on Sunday, February 1. The suspect, identified as Benson Mutiso, a GSU officer stationed at the elite Embakasi training school, is currently on the run, having allegedly locked the door from the outside and vanished into the labyrinth of the city.

A Mother’s Agony

For Sarah Wanjiku, Muthoni’s mother, the news was a sledgehammer blow that shattered her world. Speaking from the depths of a parent's worst nightmare, Wanjiku’s grief was palpable and raw. "I have a lot of pain. My daughter cannot come back even if the suspect is arrested or killed," she told reporters, her voice trembling with the weight of irreversible loss. "She was very obedient, and now she is no more. I have lost a young child. I have lost a daughter who had a vision."

The tragedy has once again illuminated the dark underbelly of intimate partner violence involving members of the disciplined forces. Neighbours in the Mihang’o estate reported seeing the suspect pursue Muthoni to her house on that fateful Sunday. The two were reportedly in an "on-and-off" relationship, a tumultuous bond that ended in the coldest way imaginable. "He assaulted her and killed her, then locked the body inside," a neighbour recounted, requesting anonymity due to fear of reprisals.

• The Discovery: Muthoni's body was found by her roommate, Lucia Wambui, who initially thought her friend was sleeping after a night out. It was only when she noticed Muthoni's pale hand that the horrific reality dawned.
• The Suspect: Benson Mutiso had reportedly absconded from duty at the GSU Training School for over 10 days prior to the murder. Kayole Police Commander John Owuoth confirmed a manhunt is underway.
• The Autopsy: Post-mortem results indicate death was caused by severe head injuries inflicted by both a sharp object and blunt force trauma.

A Systemic Crisis

This incident is not an anomaly but a festering wound in Kenya’s social fabric. It joins a growing list of femicides linked to law enforcement officers, raising uncomfortable questions about the psychological screening and mental health support within the armed forces. The sheer brutality of the attack—locking the victim inside to delay discovery—suggests a calculated malice that goes beyond a mere crime of passion.

As the family prepares to transport Muthoni’s body to Nyahururu for burial, the cry for justice is deafening. Yet, for a mother staring into the void where her daughter’s future used to be, justice is a hollow consolation. "Her life has just ended like that," Wanjiku mourned. The hunt for Mutiso continues, but for Ann Muthoni, the clock has stopped forever.