Masten Milimu Wanjala was born in 2001 in Kenya. Little is known about his early life, but by his late teens, he had developed a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior toward children. Wanjala often posed as a football coach, using the sport to gain the trust of young boys and lure them away from their homes. According to police reports, he sometimes demanded ransom from the victims’ families before killing them, suggesting that his crimes combined both financial motives and sadistic impulses.

Wanjala lived in Nairobi for much of his criminal activity, moving around without drawing significant suspicion until the discovery of multiple missing children linked him to the crimes. Reports suggest that he admitted to drinking the blood of some victims, a claim that further shocked the Kenyan public and contributed to his notoriety in local and international news.

Between 2019 and 2021, Masten Wanjala embarked on a killing spree that left at least 10 boys dead in and around Nairobi. His victims were typically between the ages of 12 and 15. Wanjala would approach them in public places, pretending to be a friendly football coach, and offer opportunities to train or play. Once in his control, he would drug them, sometimes demand ransom from their families, and ultimately kill them.

Investigations revealed varying causes of death: at least two boys were strangled, another suffered fatal head injuries, and one died under undetermined circumstances. In July 2021, Wanjala was arrested after leading police to the bodies of several victims. The discovery of these crime scenes confirmed suspicions about his role in multiple disappearances.

While awaiting formal charges at Jogoo Road Police Station in Nairobi, Wanjala escaped custody on October 13, 2021, under circumstances that remain controversial. Three officers on duty at the time were later charged with aiding or allowing his escape, claiming that a power outage had facilitated it.

His freedom was short-lived. Two days later, on October 15, 2021, he was tracked down to his home village of Mukhweya in Bungoma County, where an enraged mob captured and beat him to death. Wanjala’s parents publicly disowned him after his death, expressing horror at the crimes he had committed. His killing brought a violent end to one of Kenya’s most shocking serial murder cases in recent history, but left many questions unanswered, particularly about the true number of his victims.