Missing Woman's Phone Found in Suspected Serial Killer's Possession, Police Reveal

The mobile phone belonging to Christine Mwende Mathina, who vanished from Nairobi's Mukuru slums in February 2024, has been discovered among the possessions of suspected serial killer Collins Jumaisi Khalusha. This chilling discovery intensifies the investigation into a series of gruesome murders, linking Christine to a growing list of identified victims found at the Kware dump site.

Photo of bodies retrieved from Kware dumpsite.

Christine’s disappearance marks the third identified victim out of the 13 bodies unearthed from the dump site. The families of Josphine Mulongo, Roselyne Akoth, and Christine Mwende have provided crucial testimonies, fortifying the murder charges against Khalusha.

The harrowing details of Christine’s disappearance began on February 27, 2024. Around 6:00 PM, Christine's phone went unanswered while she was in Mukuru Kwa Njenga. She had planned to meet her boyfriend, Brian Ngumbao, at her home that evening. Despite several attempts, her Safaricom numbers remained unreachable. At 6:30 PM, Brian finally got through, only to hear a male voice stating, "Christine has gone to buy food." Minutes later, the phones were switched off.

Brian's concern led him to Christine’s house, which was locked. Entering with his own keys, he found her purse and clothes but no sign of Christine. Neighbors confirmed they had last seen her entering her house that morning. After a futile night of waiting, Brian informed Christine’s parents in Kitui County, who advised him to continue searching.

On February 29, Brian filed a missing person report at Villa police station, and Christine’s parents were directed to DCI Embakasi. As days turned into weeks, the family’s hopes dwindled. In early July, news of bodies being retrieved from the Kware dump site reached them. Desperate for answers, they reported the matter to DCI headquarters on July 18, providing Christine’s IMEI number, which matched a phone recovered from Khalusha’s house.

DCI Director Mohamed Amin confirmed that Khalusha confessed to killing 42 women between 2022 and July 11, 2024. His first victim was his wife, whom he strangled, dismembered, and dumped following a dispute over business failures.

Khalusha’s arrest in Kayole was the result of a joint operation by the DCI and National Police Service (NPS). The raid uncovered an array of items, including 24 Airtel SIM card holders, eight smartphones, a laptop, a hard drive, two flash drives, a machete, 12 nylon sacks, industrial rubber gloves, ID cards, a pink handbag, female undergarments, cannabis, cello tapes, a reflector jacket, title deeds, notebooks, and other documents.

Christine’s family has been advised to visit City Mortuary for potential identification and DNA sampling. Investigators are also analyzing call data records to uncover any prior communication or location overlaps between Christine and Khalusha.

As the investigation progresses, the community remains in shock, grappling with the reality of the horrors that unfolded in their midst. The quest for justice for Christine Mwende and other victims continues, shedding light on the dark depths of human depravity and the relentless pursuit of truth by the authorities.