Article Summary: Shocking Case of Masten Wanjala
A disturbing story revolves around Masten Wanjala, described by police as a “bloodthirsty vampire.” He confessed to the murders of at least ten children in Kenya. Wanjala started his killing spree as a teenager, abducting his first victim, a 12-year-old girl, in 2016.
Wanjala used deceit to lure his victims, posing as a coach to gain their trust before taking them to remote spots. There, he would strangle them or strike them with a blunt object. Reports reveal that he sometimes drugged his victims and even drank their blood. The remains of his victims were often found discarded in bushes or hidden in sewers around Nairobi.
His reign of terror continued for five years until he was apprehended on July 14, 2021, in connection with the deaths of two boys aged 12 and 13. After his arrest, he led police to various sites where he had killed.
On October 13, just three months after being taken into custody, Wanjala escaped from a police station, leading to a massive hunt in Nairobi. He was ultimately spotted by schoolchildren in his hometown of Bungoma, about 250 miles away. Locals, recognizing him, quickly organized a search, and he was ultimately cornered in a neighbor’s house.
In a tragic turn, Wanjala was killed by an angry mob. Witnesses stated he was strangled to death. Following his death, the Kenyan Directorate of Criminal Investigations noted that the “law of the jungle” prevailed.
Amidst the chaos, many victims’ families, like Grace Adhiambo, mother of one of Wanjala’s victims, expressed their grief and desire for justice. Adhiambo wished to understand why Wanjala committed such heinous acts, yearning for answers that may never come.
