In just 14 days into the year, two deaths have been reported in an alleged Airbnbs around Nairobi city.
However, a quick rejoinder from an Airbnb spokesperson dismissed reports that the two incidents are not connected to Airbnb.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of this shocking event, but it is important to make clear that this is not connected to Airbnb in any way," the statement reads.
"The property(Where Starlet Wahu Mwangi was killed in South B) in question did not have a reservation booked on Airbnb for the dates reported, and we do not have an account registered to the name of the accused. Our thoughts are with the victim’s loved ones during this unimaginably difficult time.”
The statement further reads that Airbnb is often used as a catch-all term to describe an entire industry, and the property is listed on other platforms such as Booking.com.
The two incidences are alleged murder cases with the latest being a 24 year old female whose body was found stuffed in a paper bag off Thika Road, Nairobi on Sunday.
The woman was stabbed and chopped in an apartment along TRM Drive, Thika Road.
Police said they are yet to know the motive of the incident. The killers are said to have stuffed some body parts in a paper bag.
Allegations have been making rounds on social media that the house in which the lady was murdered was an Airbnb.
The TRM Drive incident comes eight days after, a suspect was arrested in connection with the brutal murder of socialite Starlet Wahu Mwangi.
Wahu's body was found in an Airbnb in South B, Nairobi. She and the suspected murderer had been seen getting into the Airbnb on January 3 at night.
With the news, Kenyans took to social media platform X to share their sentiments on the increased number of death cases.
"It should be so easy to arrest those criminals. Airbnbs always collects customer IDs," one X user by the name Gidi posted.
Another one said: "Airbnb is not the problem, if there was no Airbnb, it would've happened somewhere else, home, hotel etc."
Delo said: "Iyo story ya madem kumadwa kwa Airbnb ni same na rape,no amount of online activism itastop that,its up to the ladies wajiprotect sisi tutasaidia pahali tunaweza but 90% is on them,you dont agree to spend the night with someone you've just met,uku njee kuna watu wazii.!
Mihr said: "Airbnb business is so risky. Imagine spending your life knowing that someone was killed in your Airbnb."
Anne noted: "With everything happening in Airbnb I hope landlords now know the importance of installing CCTV cameras.""
Abbie: "Airbnb hosts ask your clients for their IDs or passport."
Joseh said: "Biashara ya Airbnb's ilikuwa imeshikiliwa vizuri na married men, then came serial killers who have since ruined the reputation of Airbnb's in Kenya."
"Ladies, you really have no business booking an Airbnb with a stranger."
Omwamba said: "Following what happened with Starlet Wahu and John Matara in an Airbnb in South C last week and what has happened in TRM Drive along Thika Road this morning in an Airbnb, It's high time for the government to Regulate Airbnb. Seems like Airbnbs are not safe anymore!"