A fourth-year university student who had been missing for three months allegedly died inside a septic tank at a hostel near Athi River, just months before she was due to graduate.
How old was Ivy Anyango?
Ivy Anyango, 22, had been pursuing a degree in disaster management at Cooperative University.
Her family last saw her on June 9, 2026, when she visited them before returning to her place of residence. She sent a message that day to confirm she had arrived safely. It was the last they heard from her.
For three months, Ivy’s family searched desperately for her whereabouts, receiving no meaningful leads.
Ivy’s mum’s last dream of daughter
Her mother described a haunting dream she experienced during that period, in which Ivy appeared before her in tears.
“My daughter, we still love you. Your home is still the best place to be,” she told her daughter in the dream before they wept together and it faded away. That dream, she said, came roughly a week before the family finally received a call from authorities.
On September 30, 2026, at 7:11 p.m., a DCI officer from Athi River Police Station reportedly contacted the family and asked them to come in the following day.
Family identifies Ivy in mortuary
There, they were told that a body had been retrieved from a septic tank inside the Orange County Hostel, a facility located near Daystar University.
When the family visited the mortuary, Ivy’s mother reportedly identified features she recognised, including distinctive beaded dreadlocks and bangles on the wrist.
Authorities said DNA analysis would be required for final confirmation. Samples were collected on October 1, 2026, but results had not been released as of the time of reporting.
Blood found in unoccupied room
The Orange County Hostel, a popular residence and social spot for students in the area, was transformed into a crime scene after the body was discovered on September 5, 2026.
Investigators found a trail of blood leading to an unoccupied room designated A031, which had a shattered rear window and blood smeared across its walls.
John Moretta, the Director of Liaison and Corporate Communications, stated that the bloodstained room and broken window constituted significant investigative leads, though he noted that the identity of the deceased and the precise circumstances of her death remained subject to forensic confirmation.
Ivy’s father speaks
Ivy had been looking forward to graduating in December 2026, a milestone her family had shared in her excitement over.
Her father expressed raw grief at the situation, questioning why institutions meant to nurture young people had allegedly become sites of violence.
“Why have our universities just become places of murder? We take our daughters to school and they are being murdered every now and again,” he said.
