Deceased Alice “Sabina” Rianga
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The family of Alice “Sabina” Rianga is demanding justice after their daughter was found dead days after she went missing in a suspected femicide case in Bondo.
For Sabina’s father, Richard Kiage Rianga, the pain is still raw, his voice breaks as he recounts the moment he confirmed that the body found in Awelo village was that of his daughter.
“My daughter is gone. I cannot bring her back. There is no day I will get her back,” he said quietly. “How long will this continue happening to our children in universities?”
The 20-year-old Sabina, a student at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST), had been reported missing since May 6, 2026.
Her decomposing body was later discovered on Monday by firewood collectors in Awelo village, about six kilometres west of Bondo police station.
The discovery has triggered shock across the university community and renewed public anger over rising cases of violence targeting young women, with civil society groups calling for urgent action to address femicide.
Police have arrested a suspect identified as Maximillian John Madene, a Tanzanian, who is currently in custody assisting with investigations.
Deputy subcounty police commander Benjamin Morkomen said the body bore “visible indications” of murder, though the motive remains under investigation.
Rianga said the first alarm came from his elder son after students at the university began searching for Sabina.
“I was called and asked when I last spoke to her. I said it was on Monday. Then they told me she had been missing since Thursday and her roommates were also looking for her,” he said.
Alarmed, he immediately contacted the roommate and other students to confirm what was happening.
“They told me they had not seen her and were worried. I advised them to go to the police and report immediately,” he said.
At the time, Rianga was in Nairobi. He said he reported the matter at Kiambu DCI before being directed to Bondo.
“I sent all the details, including her OB number and her contacts. Later, I travelled to Bondo because I needed answers,” he said.
What followed was a painful search that ended at the morgue.
“We were told there was a body of a young woman that had been found in the bush. We went to identify it before investigations could continue,” he said.
He recalled the moment he first saw her.
“At first, I could not recognise her because of the condition of the body. I asked for time. I looked at her face, her leg and her fingers carefully… then I knew it was my daughter,” he said, pausing.
Sabina’s brother, Samuel Rianga, said he last spoke to her on Wednesday before she suddenly became unreachable.
“After that, her phone went off. Her roommates later reached out to me and that is when I informed my father,” he said.
He described his sister as soft-spoken and respectful, saying the family is struggling to come to terms with her death.
“She was a good girl, very calm. We are just asking for justice. How many more families must go through this?” he said.
Former JOOUST Students’ President Joel Odidi condemned the killing, saying universities must be safe spaces for students.
“No student deserves to die in such circumstances. We are calling on police to expedite investigations and ensure all those involved are brought to book,” he said.
He urged tighter security measures around learning institutions and improved collaboration between universities and law enforcement agencies.
Women’s rights advocates have also raised alarm over what they describe as increasing cases of femicide.
Eunice Oketch of KEFEADO said the killing reflects a disturbing national trend.
“Femicide is rising every day. Young girls, women and even elderly women are being killed,” she said.
She urged the government to fully implement recommendations from the national task force on gender-based violence.
Police say investigations are ongoing as detectives work to establish the motive behind the killing and whether more suspects could be involved.
