Police put Sh1m bounty on Khalusha, ‘Nairobi serial killer’
By Chemtai Kirui, NAIROBI,
Police have announced a Sh1 million reward leading to the arrest of Collins Jumaisi Khalusha, the prime suspect accused of murdering at least 42 women whose dismembered bodies were found in a Nairobi quarry.
Khalusha, who hails from Shiru Sub-location in Vihiga County, was arrested in August 2024 after mutilated bodies of young women were discovered in a disused quarry near the Kware dumpsite in Embakasi.
He later escaped from custody before he could be charged, fleeing alongside 12 undocumented Eritrean migrants, police spokeswoman Resila Onyango said at the time.
Khalusha, then 33, reportedly confessed to killing more than 40 women over a two-year period starting in 2022, saying his wife was his first victim. His lawyer later claimed he had been tortured and forced to confess.
At the time of his arrest, DCI chief Mohamed Amin described him as “a psychopathic serial killer who has no respect for human life.”
He had been expected to face murder charges before his disappearance
Authorities said he broke out of Gigiri Police Station, located near the US embassy and UN offices — by cutting through a wire mesh roof and scaling the perimeter wall along with 12 others.
His escape sparked outrage at the time, with many questioning how such a suspect could slip away from one of the capital’s most secure stations.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has confirmed that the reward would be given to anyone who provides credible information that will lead to his re-arrest.
“Every piece of information is valuable,” the agency said.
The announcement comes amid renewed criticism of the police over their failure to track Khalusha for more than a year. Civil society groups and families of the victims have demanded accountability.
Police last year said they had arrested officers accused of aiding Khalusha’s escape, though they were later released on bail.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen last month described Khalusha’s escape as “regrettable” and said he hoped the suspect would soon be rearrested.
Police are urging anyone with information on Khalusha’s whereabouts to contact them via the toll-free hotline 0800 722 203, WhatsApp number 0709 570 000, or through the police hotlines 999, 911, or 112. Reports can also be made at the nearest police station.
