Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have intensified a probe into the brutal murder of Roselyda Akinyi, a teacher in Mumias, who was attacked and killed moments after withdrawing Sh285,000 from a Co-operative Bank branch in the town.
Emerging evidence points to a possible inside job involving Co-op Bank staff.
Two bank tellers and a security guard are currently persons of interest in the ongoing investigation.
CCTV footage obtained from the bank allegedly captures two suspicious individuals engaging with a teller and a security officer just before Akinyi made her withdrawal.
Akinyi was attacked less than a kilometre from the bank by unknown assailants in a saloon car.
Contrary to initial reports suggesting a shooting, post-mortem findings revealed that she was stabbed with a long, sharp knife that pierced her chest and exited through her ribs, causing fatal internal injuries.
According to Western Regional DCI boss Njeru Nthiga, one suspect had approached a bank teller under the pretense of applying for a non-existent loan, while another tried to distract the security guard with a fabricated issue regarding a mistaken money transfer.
The detectives believe this was a calculated delay tactic to allow the assailants time to trail and attack the teacher.
“We have every reason to believe that someone inside the bank could have leaked information about the withdrawal,” said Nthiga.
“Whether it was the tellers, the guard, or someone else, we are investigating all possible leads.”
NTV Kenya has since aired CCTV footage appearing to show one of the suspects conversing with a Co-op Bank employee before following the teacher.
The footage further shows the suspects pretending to be on phone calls while watching Akinyi in the queue.
By Nation