Residents protest after woman, 18, is raped and stabbed five times in Mwiki

Detectives are investigating the brutal rape and killing of an 18‑year‑old woman whose body was found in her family’s house in Mwiki, Nairobi, sparking anger and protests that ended in violence.

The badly mutilated body of Abigael Winner Wanjiku was discovered on Thursday night, June 19. Police say she was attacked and killed by unknown assailants while alone at home.

The teenager’s body was found naked in a pool of blood.

Kasarani Sub-County Criminal Investigations Officer (SCCIO) confirmed that Abigael's skull had been broken on the forehead, and she had suffered five stab wounds to the stomach, as well as deep cuts to her neck and right ear.

A knife believed to be the murder weapon and a cooking pan used to strike her were recovered from the scene.

According to authorities, the motive for the attack remains unclear. Abigael’s mother, who operates a small kiosk nearby, said she had been with her daughter earlier that evening.

Abigael had delivered food to her before returning home. When her mother came back at around 11 p.m., she was met with the devastating sight of her daughter’s body.

Outrage quickly boiled over in the neighborhood. On Friday, residents blocked the Mwiki‑Kasarani Road with stones and branches, demanding that the authorities apprehend the perpetrators.

Police responded to the protest with force, using live bullets to disperse the demonstrators. During the clashes, a man identified as Joshua Nderitu was shot and critically injured. He was rushed to the hospital for treatment.

Police have yet to make any arrests in Abigael’s murder. The tragedy is the latest in a growing wave of brutal attacks targeting women across Kenya, prompting calls for urgent action.

A special team of investigators has been set up to probe the trend, with the task of identifying its root causes and proposing measures to halt it—a challenge many pundits warn will be far from easy