The motive behind the murder of socialite Starlet Wahu Mwangi, 26 in an Airbnb remains a mystery as police pursue various theories.
Even though a prime suspect behind the murder claims they fought leading to the fatal stabbing and strangulation, detectives say they are open to any theory.
The investigating team says the suspect could be a serial killer and an extortionist.
"He claims they fought after a disagreement but the rage witnessed suggests we dig deeper. There are new claims we are also pursuing," said an investigator.
Police have widened their probe into the theories following new developments and statements recorded.
The motive of the murder of Wahu who was a sister to evangelist Pastor Victor Kanyari, remains unknown.
This development of the suspect being a serial killer follows a female victim's report at the Makadara subcounty police headquarters, detailing an attempted murder by the suspect identified as John Ongoa Matara, whom she met on a dating site.
The investigations took a different twist on Saturday after more victims emerged to claim assault, extortion and attempts on their lives by the 30-year-old Matara.
Matara told police he is a graphic designer. He added the deceased woman first attacked him unprovoked before he retaliated and stabbed her in the thigh rupturing a vein.
One of the women claimed she fell victim to the suspect on December 29, last year, days after meeting on a dating site.
The victim described her encounter with Matara on a dating site before booking an AirBnB, where he initiated a violent assault, demanding access to her financial accounts.
“I met this guy on a dating site…he seemed so nice and even took me to an AirBnB. In the middle of the night he started strangling me and even asked for my MPesa statements,” she said.
“He was trying to strangle me so much.” Preliminary police findings show Matara might be a serial killer targeting women through online dating platforms.
“He asked for my accounts and asked me to transfer the money to him,” said another woman.
The victim, who requested to remain anonymous, identified Matara as the perpetrator after news of Wahu's murder spread, confirming that the individual matched the person she encountered.
“It is the same guy…the number posted by DCI is for the same guy, I can testify that I used it to transfer money to him which is John Ongoa Mtara,” the victim said.
Another victim said she even went out with Matara and danced before they retired to a room in Roysambu.
Therein, he demanded all the money she had received from him while holding a knife to her.
The shocking revelations come after Wahu, who was murdered in an AirBnB in Nairobi’s South B on January 3, was buried at her parents' home in Kamulu area of Ruai on Saturday January 6.
The burial was attended by family members and close friends.
Her body was discovered on Thursday January 4, in the morning, shortly after checking into the apartment on Wednesday night.
Video surveillance from Papino apartments captured Wahu and Matara entering an elevator within the apartment block on Wednesday, before disembarking on the fourth floor, and proceeding to the apartment which they had reportedly rented for a night.
Makadara police boss Judy Nyongesa said the body was found lying in a pool of blood inside the apartment after the security at the AirBnB reported the matter to the authorities.
Matara reportedly hastily left the premises on Thursday morning wearing blood-stained clothes raising the guards alarm.
He was arrested at Mbagathi hospital where he took himself for treatment for a stab wound to the leg and hands.
Police believe he inflicted the wound on himself to mislead the investigators.
A post-mortem examination conducted on the body of Wahu on Friday January 5, revealed that she died due to excessive bleeding caused by stabbing.
She had injuries in the head and neck. She had been stabbed in the thigh, which raptured her vein.
Police reports further indicate there were signs of a struggle between Wahu and her killer, as the scene appeared bloody and chaotic.
Police further discovered HIV testing kits, a used condom, bhang, a bottle of alcohol and a blood-stained kitchen knife—believed to be the murder weapon—at the scene.
The suspect was produced in court on January 5, and police were allowed to hold him for 21 days pending further probe.
Police want to talk to the family and friends of the suspect as part of the probe. They will try to know what he does for a living.