Interpol will help the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Foreign Affairs ministry to apprehend the suspect linked to the death of Baharaini athlete Damaris Muthee Mutua.
Mutua’s decomposing body was discovered on Tuesday at a house in Lilies estate, Iten, Elgeyo-Marakwet county.
The 28-year-old woman is said to have been murdered two days before her discovery at her rented house by Eskanda Hailermariam who was the last person seen with the long-distance runner.
Detective Andalo Munga, who is in charge of the investigation in Iten, has stated that they will continue to investigate until the suspect is apprehended and charged.
“We shall use all available legal means to ensure the fugitive suspect is arrested and extradited to Kenya for questioning and subsequent arraignment.
We have reasons to believe the suspect is responsible for the heinous crime,” said Munga.
Hailermariam, the suspect, is said to have fled to Ethiopia after murdering Mutua.
He had been training at the same facility and has since fled Kenya, according to police.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the victim visited the Ethiopian athlete at his rented house, almost a kilometer from Iten Police Station.
“Detectives have commenced investigations into the incident. We have established that neighbours were not even aware of the incident,” Keiyo County police chief Tom Maruko said.
“The suspect called one of his friends in Iten to inform him about the incident, who in turn alerted us.
This makes us believe he was the one who committed the crime,” he added.
Cases of homicide targeting athletes have been on the rise in the recent past in Iten town.
In October, last year, star athlete Agnes Tirop was found murdered in her bedroom with stab wounds.
