Police in Trans Nzoia County have arrested a suspect in connection with the murder of a 17-year-old Form Four student whose body was found in a farm in Endebess, western Kenya.
Detectives say Mike Wabwire Semera is the prime suspect in the killing of Rael Cheptoek Kaboi, a student at Nai Girls Secondary School, who was attacked on 30 January 2026 in the Mowlem area of Kiptogot location.
“The arrest followed an intelligence-led operation after the suspect fled towards the Kenya–Uganda border,” a senior police officer involved in the investigation said.
“He was traced and arrested through a joint operation with Ugandan security agencies at the Suam border.”
Residents raised the alarm early that morning after discovering the teenager’s body in a nearby farm, about 700 metres from her mother’s home.
Officers from Endebess Police Station secured the scene and documented it before transferring the body to Kijana Wamalwa Referral Hospital, where it is being preserved pending a post-mortem examination.
“The body had visible injuries, suggesting the victim had been assaulted,” the officer said.
“Forensic evidence collected from the scene is now central to the investigation.”
Police say preliminary findings indicate that Rael left home at about 5:45am to walk to school, which is less than a kilometre away. She never arrived. Her body was discovered at around 6:30am by fellow students on their way to class.
“This is a tragic and deeply disturbing incident,” a local administrator told the BBC. “The community is in shock, and there is a strong demand for justice for the family.”
Investigators say the suspect crossed into Uganda shortly after the killing but was tracked using intelligence reports and cross-border cooperation.
“He is currently being held at Endebess Police Station and will be arraigned once investigations are complete,” police said.
“We are also working to establish the motive behind this crime.”
The killing has renewed concerns over the safety of school-going children in rural areas, with local leaders calling for increased patrols during early morning hours.
“This case underscores the need for stronger community policing and vigilance,” the local administrator added. “Parents need reassurance that their children are safe on their way to school.”
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