DCI Arrests Key Suspect in Murder of TUK Lecturer Edgar Mokua
Colleagues said his death has left a huge void in the university, particularly in his department where he was highly respected for his work ethic and close interaction with students.
Photo: Courtesy.
By Samwel Oyondi
Police have arrested a suspect linked to the brutal murder of Technical University of Kenya (TUK) lecturer Edgar Mokua, a case that has sparked outrage and grief within the academic community.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) confirmed that the suspect, identified as Richard Gikuhe Mbugua, was arrested following weeks of intensive investigations and forensic analysis.
According to the DCI, Mokua was reported missing by his family after he failed to return home, raising alarm among relatives, colleagues and students. A search operation was launched, which ended tragically when his body was discovered dumped along Kamiti Road in Nairobi.
“The suspect was identified and arrested following forensic analysis and ongoing investigations,” the DCI said in a statement. “Investigations are still underway to establish the full circumstances surrounding the murder.”
Detectives said they pieced together crucial evidence from several locations associated with the lecturer’s final movements. Forensic experts collected samples that were subjected to laboratory analysis, which detectives say helped them trace and apprehend Mbugua.
Police have not yet disclosed the motive behind the killing, saying it remains a central part of the ongoing investigation. Officers are also investigating whether the suspect acted alone or whether other individuals were involved in planning and executing the murder.
The killing has sent shockwaves across the Technical University of Kenya community. Students and fellow lecturers have described Mokua as a dedicated, humble and passionate academician who was deeply committed to teaching, research and mentoring young professionals.
Colleagues said his death has left a huge void in the university, particularly in his department where he was highly respected for his work ethic and close interaction with students.
“We want justice for our colleague and a thorough investigation into what happened,” one of his colleagues at TUK said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
The DCI has assured the public and the university fraternity that investigations will be thorough and that all individuals connected to the crime will be brought to book. The agency has appealed to members of the public who may have information that could help in the investigation to come forward and cooperate with detectives.
Mbugua is currently in police custody and is expected to be arraigned in court once investigations are completed, as detectives continue to gather more evidence to build a watertight case.
Meanwhile, the university management said it is working with the family to support burial arrangements, as students continue to call for justice for their lecturer.
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