Family members gathered at the City Mortuary in Nairobi to identify the body of Ann Keya, the young woman allegedly stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend in a shocking attack that has left many residents in the city shaken.
The incident happened on Thursday evening along Kirichwa Road in Kilimani. Ann Keya, 25, had just left work at a money-lending firm on Ngong Road when the suspect, identified as 22-year-old Newton Ambayi, followed her.
Witnesses described how she ran into a nearby pharmacy for safety, but he caught up and attacked her with a knife. She collapsed outside the shop and died before she could get help.
Her family arrived at the mortuary on Friday to confirm it was her. The pain etched on their faces revealed the tragic tale of a life prematurely ended. One relative, speaking quietly near the entrance, said the family was still in disbelief. “She was just trying to move on with her life. Why would someone do this?”
Police reports and CCTV footage paint a disturbing picture. The suspect had reportedly come to work that day already carrying the knife. After their shift ended around 6pm, he trailed her on foot.
The video shows him stabbing her multiple times in the neck and chest area in broad daylight. Bystanders tried to intervene, and he was eventually restrained after pretending to faint. He now sits at Kilimani Police Station facing murder charges.
This was not the first time. A woman known as Wanjiru told reporters that the suspect had attempted to kill Anne earlier in Kerugoya. That past incident raised fresh questions about why stronger action was not taken then. Neighbours in the area recalled seeing signs of trouble in the relationship, but few expected it to end in death.
Kilimani, usually busy with cafes, offices, and evening foot traffic, felt different on Friday. Shop owners along Kirichwa Road spoke in low voices about the attack near Mode Cafe.
One woman selling snacks nearby wiped her eyes as she remembered hearing screams. “I thought it was just a quarrel at first. Then I saw her running. It happened so fast.”
Ann Keya had dreams like many young Kenyans in the city. Friends described her as hard-working and full of life. She had reportedly tried to end the relationship, but the suspect refused to accept it. Colleagues at the firm said the two had worked together, which made the betrayal even harder to understand.
Police Commander Patricia Yegon from Kilimani urged women in difficult relationships to seek help early. She described the killing as premeditated and linked to a toxic situation. Detectives continue to piece together events from the previous attempt in Kerugoya and the final attack in Nairobi.
Cases like this have become too common across Kenya. Recently, similar stories from different counties have sparked calls for better protection for women and faster action on reports of threats. Community leaders in Kilimani and surrounding areas say they want more awareness programmes and support services.
At the mortuary, Ann Keya’s family prepared to take her body home for burial. Her mother stood supported by others, her voice breaking as she asked for justice. “My daughter did not deserve such a fate. We want the law to take its full course.”
The suspect is expected in court soon. Meanwhile, friends have started online campaigns calling for an end to gender-based violence. One post shared photos of Ann Keya smiling at a past event, with messages urging young women to speak up when they feel unsafe.
