Chilling Case in Nairobi: Man Kills Girlfriend, Boils Her Body and Dumps Remains at Cemetery

NAIROBI, Kenya — A Nairobi court on Wednesday heard graphic testimony as prosecutors alleged that a man killed his girlfriend, mutilated and boiled her body and disposed of the remains at a city cemetery in an effort to conceal a series of earlier murders.

Prosecutors said Hashim Dagane Muhumed, also known as Hashim Mohamed Khalif, killed his girlfriend, identified as Deka Abdi Noor Gorane, on the night of Oct. 29–30, 2024, at Valley Heights Apartments in the Lavington neighborhood. He is further accused of murdering three other women earlier in October, according to the court.

Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Gikui Gichui told the court the killing of Deka was allegedly carried out to destroy evidence linking the accused to the earlier deaths.

“The accused girlfriend, Deka Abdi Noor Gorane, was the fourth victim whose body was mutilated, boiled and the remains dumped at Lang’ata Cemetery,” Gichui said.

Surveillance footage detailed in court

CCTV footage presented by Corporal Lawrence Kamau placed a small vehicle at the center of the alleged cover-up. Kamau told the court the video captured a compact car parked along Sixth Avenue in Parklands at 4:36 a.m., before it reversed and ran over an object investigators later identified as a human body.

Additional footage from Valley Heights Apartments, shown to the court, appeared to depict Dagane carrying two black bags toward the building’s lift on Oct. 31. One of the bags resembled a shopping bag prosecutors said Deka had previously carried from a nearby Quick Mart supermarket.

“My lady, we observed the man closely inspecting the items he was carrying while waiting at the lift area,” Kamau testified, describing the images frame by frame.

Prosecutors outline sequence of alleged crimes

Authorities alleged that Deka’s killing was part of a broader pattern that unfolded over several weeks. The prosecution said the fourth killing came as the accused sought to eliminate evidence tied to three prior deaths earlier in October. The remains in Deka’s case were allegedly transported and dumped at Lang’ata Cemetery, one of Nairobi’s largest burial grounds, according to testimony.

Prosecutors did not immediately provide details in open court on the identities of the other three alleged victims or whether remains linked to those cases had been recovered. The court heard that the Lavington apartment building’s security cameras and separate street CCTV from Parklands formed a central part of the prosecution’s evidence.

Key timeline prosecutors presented

• Oct. 29–30: Prosecutors say Deka Abdi Noor Gorane was killed inside Valley Heights Apartments in Lavington.
• 4:36 a.m. (date unspecified): CCTV in Parklands shows a car reversing over what investigators identified as a human body, the court heard.
• Oct. 31: Building CCTV allegedly shows the accused carrying two black bags toward the lift at Valley Heights.
• Afterward: Prosecutors allege remains were dumped at Lang’ata Cemetery.

Trial continues amid public shock

The alleged murders have unsettled residents of Nairobi’s upscale and middle-class neighborhoods, where security cameras are common and building access is tightly controlled. The case has stirred anxiety and anger, given the brutality described in court and the prosecution’s assertion that it involved multiple victims in quick succession.

Dagane’s trial is ongoing as prosecutors continue to present forensic and video evidence and call witnesses. The court did not immediately indicate when a ruling on bail or other procedural motions would be made. The accused has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Authorities urged the public to cooperate with investigators as the proceedings move forward. Further hearings are expected as the prosecution lays out its case and the defense responds.

By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.