Stepfather sought after 3-year-old found dead in suspected strangulation in Kakamega

Police in Khwisero Sub-county, Kakamega County, have launched investigations into the suspected murder of a three-year-old girl in Emakhwari “A” Village.

Officers responded on Monday, March 31, to information about the incident, finding the child’s body lying on a bed inside her home.

Her mother told police that a domestic disagreement with her husband on Sunday night had prompted her to seek refuge at a neighbour’s house, leaving the child behind with the man, reported to be the girl’s stepfather.

When she returned the following morning at around 7:00 a.m., she found the house locked from the inside and the man missing.

After breaking the padlock, she discovered the child’s lifeless body on the bed. Preliminary observations indicated no visible physical injuries, but mucus discharge from the mouth and nose raised suspicions of possible strangulation.

The body was moved to Sonak Hospital Mortuary for preservation and a postmortem examination. Police have launched a manhunt for the suspect, who remains at large, as investigations continue.

The motive for the murder remains unknown, police said on Wednesday.

Authorities noted that murder incidents have been on the rise amid efforts to solve them.

Elsewhere, detectives in Molo Sub-county, Nakuru County, have arrested a 42-year-old man following the death of his wife in what is believed to have been a domestic dispute at Migaa Village.

The incident occurred in the early hours of March 30, 2026, police said. Authorities received reports indicating that a domestic quarrel had escalated, with a man allegedly fatally injuring his spouse.

A team of officers who responded to the scene found the suspect inside the home. Upon entering, they discovered the lifeless body of his wife, 34-year-old Rose Marita, lying inside.

Preliminary observations revealed that Marita had sustained a deep cut to the head, causing severe bleeding believed to have led to her death.

Investigators processed the scene, and the body was moved to Molo Sub-County Hospital mortuary, where it awaits a postmortem examination.

The suspect remains in police custody pending further investigations. Police said inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the incident are ongoing.