Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives have unmasked the area where the main suspect in the gruesome murder of JKUAT student Rita Waeni Muendo used to stay.

According to a detective who spoke in confidence to one of the leading local dailies, the main suspect was traced to Ruaka in the days leading to the incident.

The detective noted that the killer had also spent half of the day in Ruaka on the same day he met his victim, a clear indication that it was likely his area of residence.

He would then go to Roysambu where he booked an Airbnb apartment along TRM Drive.

Rita Waeni Muendo’s family said the 20-year-old left her aunt’s residence in Syokimau to meet with a friend.

Her father would later receive a message delivered from her phone number on Sunday at about 5:00am, demanding a ransom of Ksh. 500,000 within 24 hours to secure her release.

The family then reported the matter to the police and DCI for investigations.

The body parts of the student, who was due to join her fourth year of university, were discovered inside a trash bag in an Airbnb apartment in TRM Drive, Roysambu, by the caretaker on Sunday.

Her head was however missing.

Detectives are still searching for Ms Muendo’s head and her personal belongings including her clothes and mobile phone.

On Tuesday, police arrested a male foreign national at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on suspicion of being involved in the murder.

The suspect was travelling using a Mozambican passport and was intercepted before boarding a plane after he reportedly raised suspicion.

He was interrogated at the airport before being transferred to the Kasarani Police Station pending identification.