Man linked to Eastleigh killings wanted to marry one of his suspected victims

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Wednesday confirmed that Hashim Dagane Muhumed, a man currently under investigations over the killing of three women from Eastleigh, is also suspected of murdering Deka Abdinoor, whose remains were discovered on October 31 at Lang'ata Cemetery.

Detectives have added her to the list of victims allegedly killed by Hashim.

Authorities and the public continue to question the relationship between Deka and Hashim and the events that led to her tragic death.

Deka and Hashim had known each other for some time and were in a relationship, according to friends and other sources. Hashim had twice approached Deka's parents, asking for her hand in marriage but his proposals were declined.

In the Somali culture, a man must approach a woman's family for consent before marriage arrangements are formalised, in a process known as "doonis".

Deka was deeply in love with Hashim, and her friends say she was heartbroken by her parents' refusal to approve the marriage proposal.

Despite the disapproval, Deka continued to see Hashim, spending time with him even as her friends and family expressed concerns. They reportedly warned her about Hashim, saying he was not a suitable partner. However, she remained committed to him, often meeting him in private.

Deka, described by her friends and family as hardworking, was raised in Wajir and later moved to Nairobi where she worked at a restaurant in Starehe's Ushirika area.

Missing

She was last seen on October 21, the same day the bodies of three Eastleigh women, believed to be Hashim's other victims, were found.

Deka's family grew worried when she did not return home and was absent from work.

Initially, they feared she was among the three victims found, but her body was not among those discovered. Still, her family suspected that she was with Hashim, as he was the person she spent time with.

On October 24, Deka's family reported her missing at California Police Station. The family's anxiety was temporarily relieved when they received a voice note from Deka, saying she had left the country but did not know where she was.

In the recording, she claimed to be safe.

In a separate recording, Hashim also contacted one of his relatives, claiming he had been arrested and needed money. When the relative asked about Deka's whereabouts, Hashim's response was vague. He said she had "migrated", suggesting she had left the country.

The Eastleigh Voice obtained another WhatsApp voice note Deka sent to her family. In the recording, she told her mother she was out of the country and was traveling to an undisclosed location by bus. In the message, Deka expressed her sorrow for not being able to care for her ailing mother, apologising for not providing the financial support her mother needed.

"If I had money, I would have treated you. I'm currently on a bus heading to a place I do not know," she said, her voice sounding strained and emotional.

Family members recounted that Deka's phone activity became erratic. She would frequently be offline, only coming online occasionally to send voice messages. This unusual behaviour added to their concerns.

The investigations into Hashim's alleged crimes, including his connection to Deka's death, are ongoing as police work to piece together the circumstances surrounding these tragic events.