Police Launch Manhunt After Nairobi Man Allegedly Kills Teen Daughter

Police have launched a manhunt for a Nairobi man suspected of killing his teenage daughter, Shirleen Nyangweso, following a brutal assault at his home in Dandora.

The Grade 8 pupil is alleged to have died after being severely beaten by her father, reportedly in the presence of her stepmother.

According to the girl’s biological mother, the incident was triggered after Shirleen visited her during the December holidays. The mother said she had previously been married to the suspect for 14 years before they divorced, after which custody of the children was granted to the father.

Shirleen had stayed with her mother from December 26 until December 31, when the suspect reportedly went to pick her up following a quarrel.

“When I made the call, the stepmother was the one who picked it up. My daughter later told me that she had been beaten by her dad, but asked me to come and pick her up the next day,” she stated.

The girl is said to have been caned repeatedly at the Dandora home as punishment for visiting her biological mother.

Shirleen is reported to have collapsed in the middle of the night after the severe beating. The father then rushed her to Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital, where he allegedly dumped her body before disappearing.

On January 1 at around 7 am, the father allegedly called the mother and asked her to meet him at the hospital, saying the child was in a bad state.

“He made sure I arrived at the hospital before he hung up and switched off his phone. To date, his phone is unreachable,” the mother toldCitizen TV.

At the hospital, the mother recounted seeing Shirleen’s head badly swollen with blood on her forehead, and her hands and legs bore marks suggesting she had been tied as she was being beaten.

“Her hands were swollen as if they had been restrained, and there were also marks on her legs,” she added.

The stepmother, who is said to have witnessed the assault, reportedly told investigators that the father did not intend to punish the girl to death, claiming the incident happened by mistake.

However, an autopsy has since established that Shirleen died from traumatic injuries to the head, chest, and other parts of the body.

Neighbours and members of the community have condemnedthe killing and called for justice.

“We need to help the mother bury her daughter, and from there wepursue justice for Shirleen,” said one neighbour.