Detectives in Vihiga County have arrested a 24-year-old man suspected of murdering a 14-year-old schoolgirl whose body was discovered in a tree plantation in Masana Village, South Maragoli, six months after she went missing.
The suspect, identified as Stanley Odero, was arrested on Friday, November 13, following investigations by detectives from Vihiga Sub-County.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), forensic investigations produced a positive DNA match linking Odero to the murder of Draron Kanagi, a Grade Eight pupil at Hamasana Primary School.
Kanagi went missing on the evening of May 18, 2026, while making her way home from school. Her disappearance sparked a search by her family, who became increasingly concerned after she failed to return home.
The search ended in tragedy the following afternoon when two women collecting firewood discovered her body in a tree plantation in Masana Village, within South Maragoli Location.
Police said preliminary investigations established that the schoolgirl had been sexually assaulted before she was strangled and her body tied to a tree. Her schoolbag, which contained her books, was found nearby.
The discovery prompted detectives to launch investigations into the circumstances surrounding her death, with forensic analysis forming part of efforts to identify and apprehend the person responsible.
The body was subsequently transferred to the Vihiga County Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary, where a postmortem examination was scheduled to establish further details surrounding her death.
For months, investigators pursued leads as they sought to piece together the events leading to the disappearance and killing of the young learner.
The breakthrough came on November 13, when detectives arrested Odero, a resident of Masana Village, after forensic findings reportedly linked him to the crime.
The suspect is currently being held in police custody as detectives complete the necessary processing ahead of his arraignment in court.
The arrest marks a significant development in a case that had left the victim's family and the local community seeking answers over the young girl's death.
The DCI has sent its condolences to Kanagi's family, friends and relatives, while reaffirming its commitment to pursuing justice for the victim.
The agency has also reiterated the importance of forensic investigations in supporting criminal inquiries, particularly in cases where investigators must establish links between suspects and reported offences.
Odero is expected to be presented in court as the legal process gets underway.
