Detectives delving into the brutal murder of Ms Starlet Wahu on Wednesday, January 10, 2024, executed a search warrant at the residence of the prime suspect, John Matara.
The investigators, affiliated with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) homicide wing, made a grim discovery inside Matara’s modest one-bedroom house in Kahawa West, Nairobi County.
The raid aimed to secure additional exhibits crucial for the impending court proceedings against Matara, who has captured public attention following the grisly incident.
Among the unsettling findings were HIV testing kits and condoms, raising eyebrows about the nature of Matara’s interactions with his victims.
An unnamed DCI officer, speaking to Nairobi News on condition of anonymity due to lack of media authorisation, disclosed, “The officers also found other items which are believed to be used by the suspect in assaulting his victims.”
The detective did not shed more light on the details of the items.
Describing the suspect’s living conditions, the officer revealed that Matara’s sparsely furnished house contained only a table, a computer, and a chair in the living room.
According to the investigators, the computer served as the conduit for Matara’s engagement with potential victims through various dating applications and social media sites.
Matara, known to reside alone, had a transient lifestyle, frequently moving from one residence to another to avoid detection by law enforcement.
The search of his current residence, where he had stayed for the past six months, shed light on his financial struggles, with reports indicating that he struggled to pay rent promptly.
The police have been intensively investigating the suspect since the discovery of Ms Wahu’s body in an apartment he had booked in South B, Makadara Sub-County.
Following a court order on Friday, January 5, 2023, investigators were granted 21 additional days to hold Matara in custody as they delve deeper into the case.
Disturbingly, the investigation has taken a darker turn, as three more victims have come forward, reporting that Matara had assaulted and stolen from them in the past.
