Makadara court has approved a 10-day detention period for Josiah Njeru Njiri, the taxi driver suspected in the murder of gospel musician Rachel Muthoni Wandeto. Authorities are actively pursuing CCTV footage, tracking witnesses, and conducting forensic analysis on evidence as part of the investigation.
The initial request by detectives was for a 21-day detention, but the court granted a shorter duration.
Njiri, who regularly drove for Wandeto, was apprehended in Kasarani by DCI homicide detectives following the assault on the performer in Mwiki, Kasarani.
According to documents submitted to the court, DCI officials confirmed Njiri is under investigation for murder related to the attack that resulted in Wandeto suffering extensive burn injuries, which proved fatal on Monday, 18th May, 2026, at Kenyatta National Hospital.
Investigators have discounted the Ruto tattoo as a potential motive, with current indications suggesting financial motives, a possible romantic entanglement, and personal conflicts as likely causes.
President William Ruto addressed the issue on Thursday, 21st May, 2026, while in Mombasa, three days following Wandeto’s passing. He characterized the attack as appalling and intolerable, emphasizing that perpetrators of such crimes will face legal consequences.
“No Kenyan should be subjected to harm based on their beliefs or affiliations, and individuals responsible for such atrocities will encounter the full rigor of the law,” Ruto affirmed, noting that the nation’s rising climate of intolerance requires immediate attention.