Court in Kenya Exonerates Catholic Sister Earlier Detained over Colleague’s Death, Names Her State Witness

Nairobi, 28 October, 2025 / 10:49 PM

Sr. Caroline Kanjiru, a member of the Nazareth Sisters of the Annunciation(NSA) in Kenya’s Catholic Diocese of Meru, has been exonerated by a Kenyan court after being held as the prime suspect in the October 12 murder of her colleague, Sr. Anselmina Karimi.

On Tuesday, October 28, the court in Meru ruled that there was insufficient evidence linking Sr. Caroline to the crime and subsequently named her a State witness in the ongoing case.

Earlier, on October 14, Senior Resident Magistrate Evalyne Ndegwa ordered the continued detention of Sr. Caroline, citing the seriousness of the alleged offense, the need to complete investigations, and concerns for her personal safety.

During the October 28 mention of the case, the investigating officer from Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters told the Meru court that nothing had been found connecting Sr. Caroline to the murder of her colleague, Sr. Anselmina.

“I took over the investigations from the DCI Imenti North and conducted fresh investigations. We conducted homicide investigations, did analysis of call data records and interviewed witnesses. Out of this investigation, we have concluded that the respondent is not connected to the murder,” Patrick Wachira reportedly told the Kenyan court.

According to Kenya’s Nation Africa report of October 28, Senior Principal Magistrate Susan Ndegwa allowed the application and set Sr. Caroline free.

The report indicates that investigations revealed Sr. Anselmina died from severe head injuries caused by a blunt object, which resulted in fatal bleeding in the brain.

She also suffered a broken neck and injuries on the hands and legs, indicating she was tied up and tortured before her murder.

According to police reports, the late Sr. Anselmina is believed to have been lured out of her residence at Nkabune Children’s Home, an institution under Kenya’s Catholic Diocese of Meru, before being murdered and her body later returned to the premises.

The murder is believed to have taken place between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. as investigators have established Karimi's phone made some calls at around midnight on Sunday, October 12.

Earlier, sources told ACI Africa that Sr. Caroline had recently succeeded the late Sr. Anselmina as head of the Nkabune Children’s Home of Meru Diocese.

“The deceased had faithfully served for many years, running a children’s home. She was requested to transfer to allow another Sister to take over, but she declined, having already shared a lot of personal and institutional information with her family,” reads in part the note that ACI Africa obtained. The account suggests that Sr. Anselmina’s deep family involvement in the Diocesan apostolate may have contributed to her reluctance to hand over the responsibility.

The same note indicated that Sr. Anselmina “collapsed and passed away while alone,” and added, that Sr. Caroline “does not reside near her room.”

In a statement on October 15, the NSA Superior General, Sr. Adelina Muguna, expressed sorrow over the “double tragedy” that had befallen the Religious Institute.

“I wish to state that we are greatly saddened by the double tragedy,” Sr. Adelina said, and described the passing on of Sr. Anselmina and the subsequent arrest and detention of Sr. Caroline as “a very unfortunate event.” 

She said that the Congregation was “in shock and in deep sorrow.”

“We wish our departed sister eternal peace, and for Sr. Caroline, strength from our Heavenly Father during this difficult moment,” said the Superior General of the Religious congregation that the first Local Ordinary of the Meru Diocese, Bishop Lorenzo Victor, founded on 8 December 1955.