KISAUNI, Mombasa — A Tanzanian national accused of sexually assaulting and killing an 11-year-old girl in Kisauni, Mombasa, remains in custody as investigators continue to build their case.
The suspect, Anthony Juma, also known as Kipara, is alleged to have murdered Glorious Kaiza Maore, who had been reported missing on March 15, 2026, after failing to return home from a Sunday school practice.
The disappearance prompted a community search that ended days later with the discovery of the girl’s body in Manyani area.
Children playing nearby alerted authorities after spotting a sack with a human hand protruding from it. Police officers who responded to the scene established that the body had been concealed inside the sack and bound with a rope, in what investigators believe was an attempt to cover up the crime.
A postmortem conducted at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital confirmed that the minor had been defiled before being strangled to death.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), detectives launched investigations immediately following the discovery of the body.
The trail led to the suspect’s residence, where officers recovered partially burnt clothes and bedding believed to have been used in an attempt to destroy evidence.
“The suspect had fled, leaving behind an abandoned house where partially burnt clothes and beddings were recovered, evidence of a failed attempt to destroy crucial exhibits,” DCI stated.
A manhunt was subsequently launched, culminating in the suspect’s arrest on April 12, 2026.
The suspect was arraigned at Shanzu Law Courts, where investigators sought additional time to complete forensic analysis.
“On April 13, 2026, the court granted a 21-day custodial order, enabling investigators to finalise forensic analysis and strengthen the case ahead of prosecution,” DCI noted.
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Authorities say the suspect had been operating locally as a garbage collector and did not possess formal identification documents.
The case is scheduled for mention on May 4, 2026, as investigations continue.
The case has renewed concerns over child safety and violent crime in urban settlements, particularly in coastal regions where transient populations and informal employment can complicate identification and tracking of suspects.
Kenyan authorities have in recent years intensified efforts to strengthen forensic capacity and improve inter-agency coordination in serious crimes, including cases involving minors.
