Suspect in Teacher’s Murder Nabbed in Lamu While Allegedly Attempting to Cross into Somalia

21 May 2026 - Detectives have arrested a man wanted over the murder of a teacher in Kirinyaga County after tracking him to Lamu, where he was allegedly attempting to flee to Somalia.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said Peter Kanumbi, who had been on the run since March, was arrested in Mpeketoni following what investigators described as months of intelligence-led operations and surveillance.

Kanumbi is linked to the killing of Betty Wanjiru Nyaga in Mwea East on March 12, 2026.

In a statement, the DCI said detectives from Lamu County worked jointly with officers from the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau (CRIB) based in Kerugoya to track down the suspect.

“A relentless manhunt by detectives from Lamu County in conjunction with their counterparts from the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau culminated in the arrest of Peter Kanumbi,” the agency said.

According to investigators, the suspect had gone into hiding immediately after the killing, triggering an extensive search operation.

Detectives eventually traced him to Mpeketoni in Lamu County, where they arrested him moments before he allegedly crossed into neighbouring Somalia.

“Detectives swiftly moved in and cornered him moments before he could allegedly slip across the border into neighbouring Somalia in a desperate attempt to evade arrest,” the DCI said.

The arrest ended what detectives described as a months-long “cat-and-mouse game” between the suspect and investigators.

Following the arrest, Kanumbi was escorted back to Kirinyaga County and arraigned before the Kerugoya Law Courts.

Detectives obtained a five-day custodial order to allow completion of investigations before further legal action is taken.