Surveillance footage shows Hashim Dagane Muhumed (R), the main suspect in multiple murder cases in Nairobi, exiting a Lavington apartment with two large bags on October 31, 2024. Authorities believe these bags may have contained the dismembered remains of Deka Abdinoor Qorane (L). (Supplied)
NAIROBI, Kenya (HOL) — The father of a young woman whose dismembered body was found outside Nairobi’s Langata Cemetery last week has spoken out, calling for justice as authorities investigate her suspected killer, a man now linked to multiple brutal murders of Somali women in Kenya.
Deka Abdinoor Qorane, 27, was reported missing by her family in late October, sparking a desperate search that ended in heartbreak when Kenyan police discovered her remains on October 31. Authorities suspect Hashim Dhaqane Muhumed, already in custody for a string of previous murders, to be behind Deka’s death.
For her father, Abdi Moalin Nur (Qorane), Deka’s death is a nightmare come true. In an interview with the BBC, he described his daughter as a driven young woman who had recently graduated from medical school and was preparing to start her career. “She worked so hard for years, and we were all looking forward to seeing her achieve her dreams,” he said. “Now, all we have left is sorrow.”
His voice was heavy with grief. Nur recalled Deka’s childhood in Mandera, where she grew up and studied before moving to Nairobi for university. “She dedicated her life to her education, and we supported her at every stage. We wanted to see her succeed and bring peace to our family. But fate had something else in store for her.”
Nur revealed that Hashim Dhaqane Mohamud, the prime suspect, was an acquaintance from their extended community. “We once thought of him as kin,” said Mr. Qorane. “He was distantly related through clan ties, but now he stands accused of taking my daughter’s life as he did others before.”
Nur says he believes justice is now the only path forward. “All we can do is wait and trust that the justice system will hold those responsible accountable. We have no other recourse,” he said.
Police apprehended Muhumed, believed to be a former Ethiopian police officer, last month following an intensive manhunt. Surveillance footage captured him leaving a Lavington apartment two days before Deka’s body was found, carrying two large bags that detectives believe contained her dismembered remains. Police say this discovery builds upon a troubling case file that paints Muhumed as a dangerous serial killer with a history of evading justice.
Hashim Dhaqane Muhumed, the primary suspect in multiple murder cases in Nairobi, was apprehended by Kenyan authorities following a high-profile investigation. Muhumed is accused of the brutal murders of three women in Eastleigh and is now linked to an additional killing in Lavington. His arrest has intensified calls for justice and raised concerns over public safety in Nairobi. SUPPLIED
“Muhumed had already been accused of murdering three Somali women in Eastleigh,” said DCI Director Amin Mohamed. “We believe Deka’s killing marks a continuation of his violent spree.” The three Eastleigh victims—Waris Daud, her daughter Amina Abdirashid, and 12-year-old niece Nuseiba Dahir—were found mutilated and scattered across Nairobi and Machakos County last month. Police say the killings were particularly gruesome, with signs of extreme violence, including strangulation, stabbing, and, in the case of young Nuseiba, evidence of sexual assault.
Authorities uncovered evidence linking Muhumed to these crimes after CCTV footage captured his Nissan Note parked near the victims’ last known location. A forensic search of the vehicle yielded traces of blood and fibres tied to the victims, further implicating him in what police are calling one of Nairobi’s most harrowing murder investigations in recent memory.
Deka’s family and the broader Somali community in Nairobi are reeling, with many voicing fears that Somali women have become targets in a disturbing wave of violence. This concern is echoed by recent high-profile murders, including the case of Somali-Kenyan politician Yusuf Hussein Ahmed, who was abducted in September. His body was discovered 40 days later, bearing signs of torture. “The Somali community feels increasingly unsafe,” said Sumeya Noor, a relative of the Eastleigh victims. “We fear for our women, for our families. We demand answers.”
Political leaders and human rights organizations have joined the Somali community’s outcry, calling on the government to address what they see as a disturbing rise in femicide. Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna described the recent cases as part of an “urgent and terrifying reality” for women in Kenya, urging authorities to prioritize these cases and protect vulnerable communities. “When crimes of this magnitude go unanswered, nobody feels safe,” he said.
Deka’s murder, along with the other brutal killings, has sparked renewed calls for a systematic response to violence against women in Kenya. The Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA-Kenya) condemned the crimes, emphasizing the urgent need for security measures to protect women. “Enough is enough. Kenyan women deserve safety,” said Christine Kungu, FIDA’s chairperson. “The government must take action to ensure women and girls are protected from such violence.”
Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations continues to probe Muhumed’s background, with authorities suspecting he may have accomplices and investigating whether he could be connected to other unsolved murders in the city. Police Chief Adamson Bungei acknowledged the case’s intricacies and said the force is working to provide answers and bring those responsible to justice.
