The murder trial of Starlet Wahu has entered its almost final stages, with new testimony revealing that the apartment where she was killed was operating as an unlicensed Airbnb.
Appearing before Justice Alexander Muteti, apartment owner Florence Ngina admitted that she failed to follow basic guest verification procedures when the prime suspect, John Matara, checked in. She told the court she neither issued a receipt nor recorded his identification details, relying instead on a referral from a woman identified only as Jane. Ngina testified that Matara had been directed to the apartment by Jane after he inquired about an Airbnb with a balcony.
Despite offering room service, she acknowledged that she did not properly monitor or verify the guest during his stay. The court heard that suspicion arose when Jane received a distress call from a security guard, who reported seeing Matara hastily leaving the premises wearing only a towel. Alarmed, Ngina, Jane, another individual identified as Charity, and the guard went to the room Matara had occupied. Using a spare key, they gained entry and discovered Wahu’s body lying in a pool of blood.
Police were immediately called and documented the scene before proceeding to Mbagathi Hospital, where Matara was later arrested. Wahu’s body was subsequently moved to the mortuary.
Starlet Wahu, widely known in Kenyan social circles and as the sister of controversial preacher Victor Kanyari, was found murdered earlier in 2024 at a short-term rental apartment in Nairobi’s South B area. Initial reports indicated that she had checked into the Airbnb with Matara shortly before the incident.
Investigators alleged that the suspect turned violent during their stay, leading to her death under brutal circumstances. The case sparked widespread public concern, particularly around the regulation and safety standards of short-term rental properties in Kenya. John Matara was arrested soon after the incident and has remained the prime suspect throughout the trial.
The prosecution has been building its case around witness testimonies, forensic evidence, and the sequence of events leading up to Wahu’s death.
The case is now in its final phase, with the last witness expected to testify on April 30, 2026.
The court’s findings are anticipated to not only determine Matara’s fate but also potentially influence stricter enforcement and oversight of Airbnb-style accommodations in the country.
