A Makadara court Thursday allowed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to detain a murder suspect for 10 days pending investigations into the killing of gospel artist Rachael Wandeto who suffered severe burns after being doused with a flammable substance.
Resident Magistrate James Juma Mayiah on Thursday allowed the DCI to continue holding Josiah Njeru Njiru at Kilimani Police Station pending completion of investigations into the death of 37-year-old Rachael Muthoni Wandeto.
Njiru is being investigated for the offence of murder. He a taxi driver.
According to police, the deceased was attacked on the night of May 15, after allegedly being lured out of her home in Mwiki town at around 9pm.
She was reportedly doused with a flammable liquid and sustained burns covering more than 70 per cent of her body.
The incident was reported at Mwiki Police Station under OB No. 02/16/05/2026.
Police officers responding to the scene found the victim unconscious near 11th Street along Obama Road.
She was first rushed to Uzima Uhali Hospital before being referred to Kenyatta National Hospital for specialised treatment.
However, she succumbed to her injuries on May 18, while receiving treatment.
Court documents show that the suspect was arrested on the night of May 20, at Ruai bypass within Nairobi County.
In an affidavit filed before the court, Investigating Officer Chief Inspector Raphael Wanjohi of the Homicide Investigations Bureau stated that preliminary investigations placed the suspect in contact with the deceased shortly before the attack.
The officer told the court that Njiru was the last person to communicate with the victim and had shared a location with her near her residence on the night of the incident despite not residing in the area.
Wanjohi also told the court that several items recovered during the suspect’s arrest, including mobile phones, clothes, identity cards and documents, are yet to undergo forensic analysis.
He further said investigators are still pursuing CCTV footage from various cameras within the area and analysing call data records, which allegedly show the suspect had been visiting the victim’s neighbourhood over the past three months.
The police also intend to obtain DNA samples from the suspect, conduct a mental assessment, organise an identification parade and carry out scene reconstruction with the assistance of forensic experts.
Wanjohi had sought to detain the suspect for 21 days, arguing that the matter had attracted significant public interest and that releasing the respondent could compromise his safety and intimidate witnesses.
However, the court granted investigators 10 days to complete the ongoing inquiries.
The suspect will remain in custody at Kilimani Police Station and is expected to appear in court on June 2, 2026 when the matter will be mentioned.
Wandeto had gained widespread attention earlier this year after tattooing President Ruto’s face on her chest together with the slogan “TUTAM” — short for “two terms” — in support of his 2027 re-election bid.
Relatives alleged that her political stance had created tension within parts of her family, with claims that she had been evicted from home over political disagreements.
Police and family members said the attackers demanded money or benefits they believed she had received because of her support for the president. When she reportedly told them she had nothing, they allegedly poured petrol on her and set her on fire.
Graphic images of her injuries circulated widely online, triggering condemnation from leaders, activists and members of the public, who called for swift justice over the killing.
The incident has attracted political attention amid claims that are unsupported.
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