A 24-year-old has surrendered to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) after social media users linked him to the suspected serial killer in Kware massacre.
In a statement on Monday, July 15, 2024, Jairus Onkundi surrendered to the DCI after a famous social media user linked him to the name of the suspected serial killer, Collins Jumaisi Khalusha.
“After our press briefing earlier today regarding the pursuit and subsequent arrest of the prime suspect in the Kware killings namely Collins Jumaisi Khalusha, we found it unfortunate that some X users discredited our investigation by alleging that we issued a misleading statement by getting the names of our 33-year-old suspect wrong,” DCI stated.
“Specifically, one (name withheld) on his X account carelessly and with total disregard to the need to verify information, indicated that there existed no public record of our suspect, and went ahead to post the names, images and description of another innocent Kenyans by the name Jairus Onkundi.”
Following the implication, Onkundi, who is a graduate of Meru University of Science and Technology, surrendered to the authorities for clearance from any culpability in the ongoing investigation.
“Hours later in the afternoon, our Complaints Directorate received a shaken young man in the name of Jairus Onkundi Morwabe aged 24 years and a graduate from Meru University of Science and Technology, who was surrendering himself to the authorities for clearance from any culpability in the ongoing investigation,” DCI stated.
The crimebusters indicate that Onkundi is a bachelor’s degree holder in Computer Science from Meru University, a course he undertook between 2019 and 2023.
“According to the complainant, he had received the circulating posts from worried family members and friends while at his workplace at Parklands in Nairobi, forcing him to rush to our offices fearing for his life in case he fell into the hands of agitated persons in the case of mistake of fact,” DCI added.
DCI aid
DCI says Onkundi has since been given the necessary assistance from the side of the police.
“This press briefing provides an opportunity to clarify to the members of the public that the 24-year-old is not a criminal, and neither is he wanted by the DCI for any reason whatsoever. Equally, I take this opportunity to assure Kenyans that our investigations are methodical and thorough and that we are always keen to ensure that any information originating from us is credible and well-verified,” DCI boss Mohamed Amin said.
DCI also says they have managed to reach out to the family of the first victim of the suspect’s killings, Imelda Judith Karenya.
DCI says Karenya’s mother is at the headquarters to record a statement on her daughter’s disappearance.