Justice Martin Muya issued the ultimatum in Nairobi, warning that he was granting the last adjournment in the matter.

“I have granted the Inspector-General the last adjournment. A comprehensive report on the whereabouts of the subject must be filed within seven days,” Justice Muya directed.

The case was filed by Mbijiwe’s family, who want the court to compel the State to account for his whereabouts, dead or alive.

Their lawyer, Evans Ondieki, accused key investigative and prosecution agencies of treating the matter casually and giving the court conflicting signals.

He told the court that the Inspector-General (IG), the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had been “shifting goalposts” instead of giving a clear update on what happened to Mbijiwe.

“These three agencies, the IG, the DCI and the DPP – have been shifting goalposts. They are not giving this court correct and candid information about the abduction of Mr Mbijiwe,” Ondieki submitted.

He said that on November 14 2025, a representative from the DPP’s office informed the court that they had received an investigation file from the DCI, but nothing had been disclosed about its contents.

“We were told on November 14 that a file from the DCI is now with the DPP. Up to today, neither the family nor this honourable court has been told what that file contains,” Ondieki added.

Mbijiwe was allegedly abducted four years ago, and his family says they have not received any concrete information about his fate.

“For four years, the family has been in the dark. They do not know whether their son is alive or dead,” Ondieki told the court.

The lawyer pressed the court to consider issuing a warrant of arrest against the IG if no meaningful progress is shown.

“We urge this court to consider issuing a warrant of arrest against the Inspector-General so that he can personally come here and explain what progress, if any, has been made in establishing the whereabouts of Mr Mbijiwe,” he said.

The court also heard that Mbijiwe’s mother has been making long, emotionally draining trips from Meru to attend the court sessions in Nairobi, hoping for answers.

Ondieki said her presence in court underscored the family’s pain and the urgency of the matter.

The case will now return to court on December 3, 2025, when the judge is expected to review the report to be filed by the Inspector-General and decide on the next steps, including whether coercive orders will be issued against top security officials if they are found to be dragging their feet.

The post Four Years On: Court Presses IG for Answers on Missing Security Analyst Mwenda Mbijiwe appeared first on Insider Bits News.

Wambui , 75, appeared before magistrate Rose Ndombi where she denied two counts of conspiracy to defraud and making a false document contrary to Sections 317 and 357 of the Penal Code.

According to the charge sheet, Wambui, jointly with another person who is not before the court, allegedly conspired to defraud businesswoman Kagure of her land parcel L.R. No. 209/4843/10 (I.R. No. 15372) located along Jogoo Road, Nairobi, and measuring approximately 0.3252 hectares.

In the second count, the prosecution claims that on unknown dates and places within Kenya, the accused made a false document,an identity card serial number 230624436 in the name of Francis Kimani Mungai, purporting it to be a genuine document issued by the National Registration Bureau, a fact she allegedly knew to be false.

Through her lawyer, Wambui pleaded with the court to grant her lenient bond terms, citing her advanced age and compliance during investigations.

“Your honour, the accused is elderly. We plead for lenient bond terms. She was out on police bond and has fully cooperated. She is not a flight risk and is ready to comply with any terms set by this court,” the lawyer submitted.

The prosecution did not oppose her release on bail. Consequently, Magistrate Ndombi ordered that Wambui be released on a bond of Sh1 million with one contact person, or alternatively, a cash bail of Sh100,000 with one surety.

The matter will be mentioned on December 8, 2025, for pretrial directions.

The post Elderly Woman Charged in Sh200 Million Land Fraud Case appeared first on Insider Bits News.

The revelation came to light during a court session at the Kahawa Law Courts, where the main suspect, Edward Kamau Gituku, appeared to face charges related to illegal recruitment for foreign military service.

According to submissions made by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the 22 individuals were found in Athi River, Machakos County, under the supervision of Gituku, who is accused of luring them with promises of lucrative salaries and overseas deployment opportunities in Eastern Europe.

“Preliminary investigations show that the 22 were ex-military personnel who had previously served in the Kenya Defence Forces,” the prosecution told the court.

“They were allegedly being prepared for recruitment and deployment to participate in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.”

The ODPP noted that intelligence reports from security agencies had been shared with international partners as part of a joint investigation into possible transnational criminal networks facilitating the recruitment of African nationals into foreign conflicts.

Gituku was arrested last week following a multi-agency operation led by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Anti-Terror Police Unit (ATPU).

Officers stormed a private residence in Athi River where the 22 men were reportedly being briefed and processed for travel.

During the raid, detectives allegedly recovered military fatigues, travel documents, and electronic gadgets believed to contain communication logs with foreign contacts.

The prosecution said the items are being subjected to forensic examination.

While opposing bail, state counsel argued that Gituku posed a flight risk and that releasing him could jeopardize ongoing investigations, noting that law enforcement agencies are pursuing possible collaborators both locally and abroad.

However, Senior Principal Magistrate (SPM) at Kahawa Law Courts ruled that the accused be released on Kshs. 500,000 bail with one surety of similar amount, observing that the prosecution had not provided sufficient grounds to deny bail at this stage.

“The accused shall cooperate with the investigators and report to the DCI headquarters once every two weeks until the matter is concluded,” the magistrate ordered.

The case is set for mention on October 23, 2025, to allow the prosecution to file a complete report and update the court on the progress of investigations, including verification of the identities and status of the 22 rescued Kenyans.

The post 22 Kenyans Recruited for Russia-Ukraine War Were Ex-Soldiers, Court Told appeared first on Insider Bits News.

Steve Okoth Odek and Orao Shikalo, also known as Vincent Oloa Wanton, appeared before Milimani Principal Magistrate Caroline Mugo, where they denied two charges—conspiracy to commit a felony and obtaining money by false pretenses.

According to the charge sheet, the duo, alongside others not before the court, allegedly conspired between February 1 and August 2, 2024, to defraud Asianic Limited by falsely claiming they could supply 580 kg of gold.

“On diverse dates between February 1, 2024, and August 2, 2024, within Nairobi County, you jointly conspired to commit a felony—namely stealing USD 265,200, by falsely pretending you were in a position to sell 580 kilograms of gold,” read part of the charge sheet.

In the second count, the prosecution alleged that between the same dates, Odek and Shikalo continued to obtain the said amount under false pretenses by misrepresenting their ability to sell the gold.

Seeking lenient bail terms, Shikalo told the court he was unemployed and the sole caregiver to his ailing mother.

The court, however, ordered that both accused remain out on their previous cash bail terms, Sh100,000 for Odek and Sh80,000 for Shikalo, until the case is mentioned on September 2 for further directions.

The post Two Businessmen Charged Afresh in Sh38 Million Fake Gold Scam appeared first on Insider Bits News.

Businesswoman and Airbnb owner Jane Wairimu Mutugi on Monday gave a harrowing testimony before the High Court detailing the gruesome moment she first saw Starlet Wahu’s lifeless body inside a Nairobi rental unit, her face down and in a pool of blood

Testifying before Justice Alexander Muteti of the Milimani High Court, Wairimu, identified as PW5, took the stand, led in her evidence in chief by State Prosecutor Mercy Njoroge, recounted the chilling scenes she encountered the night of January 3, 2024.

“I stay at Pipeline. I run a salon and Airbnb business,” she began. 

“One of my units is at Sanasana in South B.”

Her calm tone belied the horror that followed.

Recalling events of January 3, 2024, she recalled receiving a call from an unknown number belonging to a man who later became the prime murder suspect, John Matara.

“He called me at around 5 p.m. asking if there was an Airbnb to rent. We switched to WhatsApp, and I sent him a picture of a unit without a balcony. He demanded a balcony. I sent another photo and he agreed.”

That second unit belonged not to Wairimu but to her associate Charity Muthoni. 

Still, Wairimu managed the booking. 

The court heard that the guest, Matara, accepted the Sh 3,200 charge and said he would pay cash and via Mpesa.

“He asked how long it would take from town to South B. He said he’d come by matatu. I told him to alight near Attic Place and enter via a corridor to Papino Apartments,” she explained.

Once Matara confirmed arriving, she sent her seasoned cleaner, Angelica Muthoni, to collect the money, instructing her to keep Sh 200 and deliver the rest to Charity.

“Angelica later confirmed she collected the payment from the guest.”

Hours later, chaos began. At around 9:00 p.m., Wairimu got a frantic call from Charity, saying Matara had left the apartment wearing a towel soaked in blood.

“I rushed to South B Hazina Police Station. I asked officers to escort me to Papino Apartments and later to Mbagathi Hospital.”

At the scene, police found the door locked from the inside. 

They forced entry. What came next shook Wairimu to her core.

“When officers broke the door, I saw the woman, Wahu, her face was down, and she was squatting near the door. From where I stood, I could see blood everywhere in the house,” she recounted.

Wairimu insisted she never entered the apartment, but the evidence unfolded before her eyes.

“She was not moving. She was not alive. The house was full of blood. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Wahu’s body was removed later, taken to City Mortuary, while authorities began the search for the suspect.

Overwhelmed, Wairimu recalled calling Matara’s number repeatedly.

“I called him at least ten times. On the eleventh call, a woman answered and said he was at South B Hospital. Then we were told he’d been referred to Mbagathi Hospital.”

She further stated that she sent a bodaboda rider to verify the information that indeed Matara was admitted at South B hospital.

But the rider, minutes later, confirmed to us that he had been told by a security officer at South B hospital that Matara has been referred to M bagathi hospital

Together with Charity and the police, Wairimu went to Mbagathi, where they found Matara receiving medical care.

“Charity identified him immediately; he was the same man she’d seen inside Room Y32. The police arrested him on the spot,” Wairimu stated.

The man arrested at the hospital, she confirmed, is the same individual seated before the court, the accused person John Matara.

Under cross-examination by defense lawyer Mr Samuel Ayora, Wairimu clarified she had never met Matara before January 3 and had only spoken with him that day he sough a room

“Did you ever interact with him in person before that date?” Ayora asked.

“No. The first time I actually saw him was at Mbagathi Hospital,” she admitted.

Pressed on whether she had any evidence tying Matara to Wahu’s death, her answer was stark:

“Do you have anything to show he killed Wahu?”

“I have nothing to show that he killed her. l was not there. l was called when the soldier of the apartment that he had seen Matara leaving with a towel soaked in blood .”

She recounted that Matara had arrived at the apartment at around 6:40 p.m., paid cash, and that she had never entered the unit personally.

“It was locked from inside with a padlock. The window grills were locked too.”

When asked, she confirmed that only one person, the deceased, was inside Room Y32 when the police forced entry.

“When officers broke in, there was just one woman there, and she was already dead.”

She insisted she has no knowledge of any relationship between Matara and Wahu and did not witness any suspicious behavior from Matara.

The murder of Starlet Wahu, a popular influencer and entrepreneur, has become one of the most high-profile cases in recent Kenyan history. 

Found dead in what appeared to be an Airbnb rented under false names, her death prompted widespread public concern over safety, particularly for women meeting strangers online.

 Matara has pleaded not guilty.

The prosecution contends he lured Wahu to the apartment under false pretenses, then killed her in a violent, isolated encounter. 

He was arrested within hours of the discovery, while being treated at Mbagathi Hospital for undisclosed injuries.

The court is expected to hear forensic experts, digital analysts, and other key witnesses in the coming days.

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