Nairobi man arrested after confessing to killing 12 children

The man reportedly helped police recover the bodies of two children among the dozen he claims to have murdered.

A statement released by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) identified the man as 20-year-old Masten Milimu Wanjala.

The two bodies discovered were those of 13-year-old Charles Opindo Bala and 12-year-old Junior Mutuku Musyoki who disappeared on June 30, 2021 and July 7, 2021 respectively.

In a statement recorded with the DCI, Milimu disclosed that he had kidnapped the children with the intention of seeking a ransom from their parents.

Police reported that the suspect is being held to disclose the whereabouts of 10 other children he claims to have executed.

"Detectives have arrested the kidnapper behind the disappearance of two children in Shauri Moyo, Nairobi. 20-year-old Masten Milimu Wanjala, in a shocking revelation admitted to have kidnapped the children and executed them in cold blood.

20-year-old Masten Milimu Wanjala who was arrested over kidnapping and murder of two children in Shauri Moyo, Nairobi County Pulse Live Kenya

"He had earlier contacted Musyoki’s mother Felista Wayua, demanding Sh50,000 in exchange for her son’s freedom. Opindo’s father Tony Opindo, whose son never returned home from Sagaret Primary School in Majengo, was asked to send Sh30,000 as ransom," DCI stated.

DCI added: "Detectives are currently interrogating the criminal to establish the whereabouts of the other children he is believed to have kidnapped and executed. More details shall be provided as investigations ensue. Should you have any other information regarding this incident, #FichuakwaDCI through our toll free line 0800722203. USIOGOPE!"

Philip Onyancha, serial killer

The shocking occurrence comes just days after the High Court issued a new ruling concerning Kenya's popular self-confessed serial killer, Philip Onyancha.

In June 2010, 32-year-old Onyancha confessed to having murdered 17 people on diverse dates over a period of two years. He had been accused of 19 murders.

The shocking confession grew more gruesome when he added: "My target was to kill 100 women. I managed 17 and there were 83 to go."

Speaking about his past, Onyancha revealed that he had been repeatedly molested as a minor by a worker in their family home, an occurrence which he claimed had left him traumatized.

In a later hearing of the case against him, Mr Onyancha revealed that he had accomplices for some of the murders.

In a ruling delivered by Court of Appeal Judge Jessie Lessit, the court found that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had not provided enough evidence to implicate Onyancha in the murder of Catherine Chelang'at.

Pointing out oversights in the nature of the evidence provided to the court, Justice Lessit placed some the responsibility on the investigating police officers.

"All these are disheartening omissions the ones being failure to investigate a stain on the deceased door captured by the crime scene investigator, why would the police not follow this line of investigation?" Justice Lessit observed.