Kenya is a country known for its vibrant culture and entertainment industry, with a number of celebrities who have made their mark both locally and internationally.
However, amidst the glitz and glamour, there have been several cases of celebrities who have been accused of murder, leaving a trail of shock and controversy in their wake.
In this article, WoK takes a closer look at some of the Kenyan celebrities who have faced murder accusations.
Octopizzo
In January 2019, rapper Octopizzo was accused of having a hand in the mysterious death of a 19-year-old Strathmore University student.
Kenneth Abom was reportedly assaulted at the rapper’s house, and he arrived at their home in Woodley Estate with a blood-stained t-shirt.
This was moments before he fell from their fourth floor apartment and rushed to Nairobi Women’s Hospital and later Kenyatta National Hospital where he died.
However, Octopizzo denied any involvement in the teenager’s death, refuting claims by neighbours that he hit the boy.
“No, I did not hit the boy. His father was the first person I talked to after the incident. I did not know what he came to do in my house. An hour later, we heard that the boy dropped from the fourth floor,” the rapper said.
Jowie Irungu
In September 2018, Jowie Irungu was arrested in connection with the murder of a 28-year-old businesswoman, Monica Kimani.
He was arrested after police investigations revealed that he may have been at the victim’s apartment before she was discovered dead.
Monica was found dead in her bathtub after her brother George Kimani, with the help of neighbors, broke into her apartment after failing to reach her.
Her neck was slit, her mouth taped shut, her hands tied at the back and her feet were also bound.
After a long court battle, Irungu was in February 2020 released on a Ksh 2 million bail and told not to discuss the matters pertaining the case while outside.
Jacque Maribe
In September 2018, former Citizen TV news anchor Jacque Maribe was arrested in connection with Monica Kimani’s murder.
Her arrest came after hours of interrogation by Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives.
At the time of her arrest, Maribe was dating Irungu, the prime suspect in the murder.
Maribe and Irungu gave police conflicting accounts on what had happened on the fateful night Monica was killed.
Further, when detectives visited Maribe’s house, they recovered a live bullet from under the bed.
Louis Otieno
Former news anchor Louis Otieno had been accused of being involved in the mysterious death of his girlfriend, Caren Chepchumba.
Chepchumba who worked as an IT specialist at Kenya Power was discovered dead at her apartment with reports showing that she was strangled to death.
She was a daughter to Hosea Kili, the Managing Trustee of Local Authorities Pension Trust (LAPTRUST).
Denying involvement in the murder, Otieno told the court that the deceased confided in him that Kili was not her biological father and used to beat her.
He further dismissed allegations by Kili that her daughter piled debts as she struggled to finance the journalist’s lifestyle.
Okoth Obado
Former Migori Governor Okoth Obado was arrested and charged with aiding and abetting the murder of his pregnant ex-girlfriend, Sharon Otieno.
Obado’s arrest in September 2018 followed weeks of public anger after Sharon’s body of was discovered in a forest.
A post-mortem report showed that she had been raped, and stabbed eight times in the neck, abdomen and back.
The former county boss was charged alongside Michael Oyamo and Casper Obiero.
Maxine Wahome
In March 2023, rally driver Maxine Wahome was charged with murder of the late Asad Khan, who was her fellow rally driver and boyfriend.
Khan, a top rally driver, was found unconscious at their shared apartment in Kilimani, Nairobi in December 2022.
His achilles tendon had reportedly been knifed and he had a lump on his head, Saddique Shaban on Twitter quoted witnesses.
Wahome was arrested shortly after at their apartment after Khan’s brother made a report of an assault to the police.
While appearing before the court, the rally driver said through her lawyer that she is a victim of the assault, arguing that the man hurt himself as he was attacking her.
DJ Fatxo
Lawrence Njuguna, alias DJ Fatxo is currently under investigation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) over the murder of 23-year-old, Geoffrey Mwathi.
According to a statement at Kasarani Police Station, the DJ and to other men identified as his cousin and driver said Mwathi allegedly fell from the 10th floor of Redwood Apartments along USIU Road.
According to media reports, the deceased was in February 2023 contracted by DJ Fatxo to refurbish the decor of his shop and an office.
He linked up with the musician and after discussing the job at hand, Mwathi accompanied him to different nightclubs where he was set to perform.
Later at around 3 am, CCTV footage showed the musician, Mwathi, and three ladies arriving at DJ Fatxo’s apartment.
DJ Fatxo and the three ladies left the house at around 4 am leaving Mwathi in the house with two other men.
The footage also showed the two men surveying the ground floor of the building at around 5:30 am, moments before Mwathi’s body came down flying and hit the ground head first.
Moses Dola
In November 2018, former journalist Moses Dola was sentenced 10 years in prison for the murder of his wife Wambui Kabiru.
Kabiru, a former NTV reporter met her death in October 2011.
Dola was found guilty of manslaughter and ordered cancellation of his bond terms, with Judge Roselyne Korir ruling that he was a stronger party in the fight that led to the death of his wife and was therefore culpable.
Kabiru’s death was as a result of domestic violence.
