Police arrest 17-year-old girl linked to Chris Msando murder

IEBC data centre and infrastructure boss Chris Msando. He was strangled, autopsy revealed. FILE PHOTO | FRANCIS NDERITU | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The girl, whom we cannot name because of legal implications, was arrested in Migori on Wednesday by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

  • She was then taken to DCI headquarters in Nairobi, which is leading investigations into the murder of Mr Msando.

  • Mr Msando was buried at his home in Lifunga K’Obiero Village, Siaya County, on Saturday.

Police are holding a 17-year-old girl they say was found with a phone used to send threatening messages to Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission ICT manager Chris Msando, who was murdered three weeks ago.

The girl was arrested in Awendo Township, Migori County, on Wednesday.

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations took her to Kiambu Juvenile Court and requested to detain her until they complete their investigations.

She will be held at Muthaiga Police Station for five days.

The girl’s elder brother said the occurrence book indicated that she was booked for murder.

“I got a call at 7pm on Wednesday informing me that my sister had been arrested and brought to Nairobi over Msando’s death,” said the man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the girl.

“I found her at Muthaiga Police Station.”

LOST PHONE

He added that his sister told him that the officers were looking for a lost phone when they arrived at his rural home in Awendo.

“They took her and made stops at an administrative office in Kisii County. While there, the officers told my sister that they would take her to Nairobi. They called my mother after arriving in the city,” the girl’s brother said.

He added that his sister is a Standard Seven pupil at a school in Awendo.

“Police say the phone was used to threaten Msando last year but my sister says she knows nothing about it. She told me she did not know Msando until his killing was reported in the media,” he added.

“The (mobile phone) line they are talking about is the one she used until last year and she does not have it. She said one of her friends took it.”

He said he was saddened by the turn of events. 

CRYING

“I hear they took my mother’s details since my sister has not yet acquired a national identity card. She registered the SIM using my mother’s details,” he said, adding that the girl was crying and had refused to eat and drink “because she knows nothing”.

“They should bring her to my house as they continue with their investigations. I will take her for questioning whenever they want to,” he said.

Mr Msando’s body and that of 21-year-old MaryAnne Ngumbu were found in a woodland in Kiambu County.

A 58-year-old accountant is also being held at the station over the killing.

Mr Andrew Rono, who works for a State corporation, was picked up by detectives from his place of work on Monday last week and taken to court alongside Mr Idra Kisasa.

The Nation established that Mr Rono was Mr Msando’s landlord at Nyayo Estate, Embakasi, until four years ago.

INVESTIGATIONS

A source privy to the investigations said the two talked frequently even after Mr Msando moved out of the accountant’s apartment after buying a house in the same estate.

The magistrate allowed police to hold the pair for 14 days as they conduct investigations.

Mr Msando was buried at his home in Lifunga K’Obiero Village, Siaya County, on Saturday.

Police obtained details of Mr Msando’s communications from a mobile phone service provider. Out of the long call list, Mr Rono was identified as a person of interest.

The arrests came as many questions remained unanswered about the murder of the top IEBC official and his companion.

Their bodies were found on July 28, a day after Mr Msando was reported missing. They were taken to City Mortuary by police officers.

It was not until July 31 that the bodies were identified.