This archive report was first published on 24 August 2020.
Kilimani's Dark Underbelly ¶
Located in the heart of Nairobi, Kilimani has long been a preferred suburb for the city's middle class, known for its financial stability and upscale living. However, beneath its polished exterior lies a dark underbelly of crime and corruption.
From fake gold scammers and counterfeit currency merchants to high-end sex workers and sex traffickers, Kilimani has become a haven for those seeking to exploit and deceive others. The suburb has also seen its fair share of gun-related incidents, including the murder of Kevin Omwenga, whose killing was linked to a gun owned by Chris Obure, a man with a history of gun-related drama.
One of the most high-profile cases in recent years was the shooting of DJ Evolve by Embakassi East MP Babu Owino in January 2019. Owino was later charged and released on a Sh10M cash bail, while the DJ spent months in ICU recovering from his injuries.
Other notable cases include the murder of Monica Kimani, whose body was found in a bathtub with her throat slit, and the brutal killing of Caren Kipchumba, whose boyfriend, former news anchor Louis Otieno, was accused of being involved in her death.
Just last year, a 33-year-old woman named Sheilah Murage was found dead in a flower bed outside Santonia Courts, Kilimani, with signs of head injuries, sexual assault, and physical trauma. Preliminary investigations suggested that a group of people had been drinking and partying in a nearby house before the incident occurred.
Over the years, detectives have recovered millions of shillings in fake currency, with one notable seizure in September 2019 involving Ksh100 million in 100-dollar denominations. The cash was linked to a popular club in the area owned by a businessman with a history of run-ins with the law.
As the list of crimes in Kilimani continues to grow, it's clear that the suburb has become a hotbed of corruption and exploitation. It remains to be seen whether authorities will take concrete steps to address the issue and restore Kilimani to its former glory.
