Decomposing Body of RIAT College Student Found in Kisumu Forest as Prime Suspect is Arrested
A tragic incident has shaken RIAT College and the wider Kisumu community after the body of a 21-year-old female student was discovered in a decomposed state in RIAT Forest.
The young woman had been reported missing for several days following events on the night of April 5, 2026. Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, working together with officers from Kisumu West, Maseno, and RIAT police stations, recovered the body on Monday. It bore multiple stab wounds, indicating she had been subjected to severe violence before her death.
The victim was last seen in the Milimani area of Kisumu, near the Kenya Wildlife Service offices. Her family grew worried when repeated attempts to reach her failed, and her sister raised the alarm after receiving a disturbing message that evening. Investigations traced her final movements to that location. Police believe she was tortured and killed that night, with the body later dumped in the nearby forest.
The prime suspect in the case is Steven Coleman Okoth, identified as the student’s ex-boyfriend. He was arrested earlier and is accused of orchestrating her gang rape, torture, and subsequent disappearance. According to police, Okoth had been seen with the victim on the night she went missing and had allegedly made threats against her in the months leading up to the incident. Detectives recovered important items linked to the investigation during his arrest. He is currently being processed for arraignment in court, while officers continue searching for other possible accomplices.
This senseless killing has left many in the college and local community in shock and mourning. The case has highlighted concerns about the safety of female students and the dangers that can arise from troubled personal relationships. As investigations proceed and the suspect faces justice, residents and fellow students hope for a thorough process that brings full accountability. The incident serves as a painful reminder of the need for stronger measures to protect young people, especially young women pursuing education in urban areas. Family members and friends are now preparing to lay the student to rest while calling for swift action from the authorities.
