A candle-lighting ceremony was held on Tuesday, January 23 at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), to honor the memory of the late Rita Waeni, who fell victim to a tragic murder last week. The emotional vigil took place at the Pavillion at 6 pm, drawing hundreds of students who gathered in unity, holding candles in the dark as a solemn gesture of remembrance.
The Pavillion was adorned with candles arranged to spell out Rita’s name and the poignant acronym “RIP” in the center. The atmosphere was filled with silence as students bowed their heads, paying respects to their departed peer.
During the ceremony, Swahili songs, including Reuben Kigame ft Sifa Voices’ ‘Enda Nasi,’ resonated through the air, evoking deep emotions among the attendees. The chosen song, described by Kigame as a prayer of someone at the end of the road, draws inspiration from Exodus 33, where Moses entreats God to accompany the Israelites on their journey to the Promised Land.
On TikTok, several students shared somber reflections on the tragic incident that has left the nation in shock. One friend expressed, “Let’s shine light and lead our girl home to a safe place🕯❤️🕊 We, your friends Rita, love and will forever cherish the fond memories you left with us. Rest in peace, my love Rita (small).”
Rita, a third-year student, met a gruesome end, and police have identified the suspects, William Ovie Opia and Johnbull Asbor, who are currently in custody. Opia, with an expired Nigerian passport, and Asbor, who lost his passport two years ago, were arrested in a rented flat in Ndenderu, Kiambu County.
Various items, including a butcher’s knife and a small axe suspected to be involved in the killing and mutilation, were seized from the suspects’ apartment. Rita’s remains were found in plastic bags at a rental apartment in Roysambu on January 14, with her head missing, along with her phone and personal belongings.
The police, requesting an extension until January 31 for further investigations, successfully obtained the court’s approval. As the nation grapples with the shocking femicide, a protest is scheduled for the 27th of this month, and the DCI has taken charge of the case, including conducting forensic tests on the recovered head in Kiambaa.
