Nairobi, Kenya, March 13 : Samuel Musembi, one of the suspects wanted over the murder of British businessman Campbell Scott died by suicide on Wednesday, in Dandora.
Musembi, who had been on the run since the discovery of Scott’s body in Makongo Forest, Makueni County, succumbed to injuries at the Kenyatta National Hospital, after he reportedly inflicted a deep stab wound on his neck while hiding at a friend’s house.
According to detectives, Musembi had first ingested an unidentified poisonous substance in what investigators believe was a premeditated effort to take his own life.
Police said Musembi had sought temporary accommodation at the house where he allegedly told his friend that he needed some rest away from his usual residence for reasons that remained unclear.
The friend informed the family that he had left for work on Tuesday morning, leaving Musembi at his house to rest, mentioning that he appeared restless.
However, when the friend returned in the evening, he found the door locked from the inside.
After forcing the door open, he found Musembi lying on the bed, with foam oozing from his mouth and nose and blood oozing from his neck.
Musembi was taken to Mama Lucy Hospital but was turned away on grounds that his injuries were severe. He was then transferred to Kenyatta National Hospital, where he succumbed while undergoing emergency treatment in the casualty section.
Director of Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Mohamed Amin confirmed that Musembi had likely died by suicide. "An autopsy will reveal more on the cause of death,” Amin said.
Authorities had linked the deceased to driving the vehicle that ferried 58-year-old Campbell Scott’s body from Pipeline, Nairobi, to Makongo Forest in Makueni.
Campbell, who was in the Country for a Conference, went missing from Nairobi on February 15 only for his body to be discovered 8 days later in Makueni, more than 100 Kilometers away.
His body was stuffed in a sack filled with pineapples in an attempt to disguise the crime and delay its detection.
On March 7, Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) unmasked three suspects among them Musembi.
It was revealed that Bernard Mbunga Mbusu, another suspect, had been leading a gang that used “honey traps” to lure wealthy but love-starved men into secluded places.
Once there, the victims were extensively tortured and robbed by the purported lovers. The suspect is believed to operate the gang with the help of several relatives.
Before he went missing, the businessman from Dunfermline in Britain, who was a senior director with data analytics company FICO, arrived in Kenya on February 15 for a visit to meet some senior businesspersons from United States, United Kingdom, and other countries from Africa and discuss about introduction of some products in market.
After arriving for the 3-day conference, he checked into the JW Marriott in Nairobi’s Westlands area. He reportedly met with a friend for drinks at a bar in Westlands on February 16, before making his way to Pipeline.
When his colleagues failed to locate him on February 17, the matter was reported to Parkland’s Police station. The case was then forwarded to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on the next day with the International Police (Interpol) later joining.
It was not until later that the investigators learned of the discovery of the body in Makueni County and notified the family and colleagues for identification.
Boys who were grazing at sections of Makongo forest near the Wote-Machakos road had bumped into a decomposing body which had been badly mutilated on Saturday, February 22, around 10 a.m.
The matter was then reported to Kivani location chief Thomas Maitha who confirmed that the man had his eyes gouged out, ears cut, his hands tied from the back and entire body stashed in a sack which had been packed with ripe pineapples.
This prompted the administrator to escalate the matter further and inform the Police. Homicide detectives accompanied by Interpol visited the crime scene where they found the body wrapped in a sack of pineapples.
The partly decomposed had its limbs tied and was with visible injuries on the hands. The detectives collected pieces of pineapples as they picked clues into the alleged murder before proceeding to the morgue where Scott’s body was positively identified.
CCTV footage captured the Briton leaving the Marriott hotel dressed in a blue top featuring the Scotland flag on his sleeve and casual shorts, with his glasses resting on his head. He was also seen carrying several items in his hand.
Investigations by Police have revealed that the 58-year-old walked into a bar in Westlands area where he had drinks with an unknown friend.
This was before the duo left the club shortly after 7 p.m. and went on to board a taxi vehicle to an unknown destination.
After investigators from the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau intercepted the taxi driver in Westlands to assist in investigations, the driver led them to a house in Pipeline Estate in Nairobi where Campbell Scott and the mystery friend are said to have been dropped off.
Information gathered by detectives was that unknown people held the businessman at the house in Pipeline.
It was not until later that day investigators learned of the discovery of the body in Makueni County and notified the family and colleagues for identification.
