Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) announced on Tuesday that the suspect in the murder of Joy Wangui, an 18‑year‑old Form Four student at Molo Secondary School, has been arrested after a sustained manhunt in Nakuru County.

The 23‑year‑old suspect was located in a hideout at Lagwenda village, Kuresoi North, where he had been staying since the killing, according to an official DCI statement released on October 6.

The operation involved detectives from Molo and officers from the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau (CRIB) based at the Regional Criminal Investigations Headquarters in Rift Valley, who together flushed the suspect out of the hideout.

At the time of his arrest the suspect was wearing blood‑stained boxer shorts, a white T‑shirt bearing the victim’s name on the hem, and black jeans with visible dry blood stains.

He was taken to Molo Police Station for processing ahead of his arraignment, while investigators continue to piece together the circumstances of the crime.

Preliminary investigations indicate the suspect was the victim’s boyfriend, with detectives probing a possible relationship dispute as the motive for the killing.

Joy Wangui’s body was discovered on Sunday evening at her family home in the Kiambaa area, Moto Location, after her brother found her beheaded in the kitchen, with a blood‑stained axe, panga and two knives recovered nearby.

Investigators also reported that a message written in blood on a corridor wall referenced love, alleged cheating and an apology, adding a disturbing element to the crime scene.