Abigael Nafula from Kimilili went missing after a planned meeting with her estranged husband, a serving KDF officer. The couple had separated last year but reconnected earlier this month to talk things through for their young daughter. Police later found her body in a /lodging/hotel room, and her family now grieves what they call a senseless loss as the suspect remains in hiding. This KDF officer killing case has left relatives in Bungoma County demanding answers and justice.
The story started like many others in Kenya, with a couple trying to patch up old wounds. Abigael Nafula and her husband had built a life together since their early days. They met when she was still in school, got married in 2013, and welcomed a daughter. For years they navigated the usual challenges of marriage, including the long absences that come with military service. Yet by late 2025, things had broken down badly.
Lilian, Abigael’s sister, recalls the phone calls that painted a stark picture. She opened up on how her sister made the decision to leave their home in Gilgil, Nakuru County, and relocate to Rongo to start afresh. “They married in 2013, and like any couple, their marriage had its ups and downs, but they made it,” said Lilian. But in December 2025 my sister told me things had gone bad after her husband allegedly had an affair with another soldier.
That decision to walk away came after months of growing tension. The husband had been deployed to Congo but returned early amid some issues, losing extra pay from the mission. Friends and family saw the strain. Rumours of the breakup started circulating in their circle, and the pressure was on for them to try again, especially for the sake of their child.
Family Reunion Turns Deadly
Earlier in May 2026, the husband reached out. He wanted to meet and sort out their differences. Abigael agreed, hoping it might give their daughter a chance at a normal family setup. The plan was simple. They would spend time together on April 27 in Nakuru, pick up their daughter from school, and drop her back at boarding school the next day.
Lilian got updates from her sister during those hours. Abigael sounded positive at first. Her husband had been kind, and they travelled together without major arguments.
The school drop-off went smoothly on April 28. But that night, everything changed. The husband sent Lilian a text saying Abigael had returned home safely. No one thought much of it at the time. Then silence fell. Calls went unanswered.
They tried contacting the husband, but his explanations felt off. He claimed Abigael had asked to get out of the car on the way to his village – stories that did not line up. Search efforts stretched across several days until police made contact on May 18.
Hotel staff in the Nakuru area discovered Abigael’s body on the morning of April 30. She lay in the bathroom with something tied around her neck. At first glance, it looked like suicide.
The husband even suggested as much in his messages to the family. Yet a post-mortem examination told a different story. Her neck had been broken and twisted in ways that pointed to foul play, not self-harm.
“He is freely walking somewhere, not answering our calls, and has not explained what happened to my sister,” Lilian said with clear frustration.
“He keeps claiming she took her own life, but that is not true.” The family feels abandoned by the system that should protect them, especially since the suspect serves in the Kenya Defence Forces.
Calls for Justice Grow Louder in Bungoma
This incident has hit Kimilili hard. Neighbours who knew Abigael describe her as a quiet, determined mother who wanted the best for her child. Local leaders and women’s groups in Bungoma County have started speaking out about the need for faster police action. Many wonder how a serving officer can disappear so easily after such a serious allegation.
Police have confirmed they are looking for the KDF officer. As of now, no arrest has been made, and the family waits anxiously.
Lilian and her relatives said they are demanding a thorough investigation that will leave no doubt. Now they have gone public with their story in the hope of shedding light on other cases in which domestic troubles turn deadly.
There is deep pain in their home. Abigael left behind a daughter to face life without a mother. Relatives remember the little things, the way she was always checking on family members, trying to keep the peace when things got tough. An aunt said that Abigael had sounded hopeful about the meeting, that maybe it would lead to healing.
There are so many stories like this one in Kenya where separation is violent. Friends of the family point to missed warning signs, the isolation military families can feel, and the difficulties women face when leaving abusive relationships. But every case is laden with grief.
The family in Kimilili continue to hold onto memories of Abigael as the investigations continue. They gather in the evenings. They share food. They talk about her life. Lilian is clutching her phone, waiting for any word from the authorities.
