A short-term rented apartment located in South B Estate, Nairobi County where Ms Starlet Wahu was murdered, is not officially booked by John Matara using his official name, Nairobi News has established.
Ms Wahu was butchered on January 4, and the main suspect is Matara. The crime happened inside house number Y32 at the Papino Apartments in South B Estate.
The owner of the house told police that she was operating an Airbnb but it has now emerged that it was not officially booked via Airbnb company.
The company said that it was really saddened with what had transpired but they had to make it known that the house is not associated with them.
“The property in question did not have a reservation booked on Airbnb for the dates reported, and we do not have an account registered to the name of the accused. Our thoughts are with the victim’s loved ones during this unimaginably difficult time,” the statement read in part.
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Airbnb has a website where people travelling usually use to book rooms and they usually charge a commission for the same.
CCTV footage seen by this reporter captured the suspect leaving the premises at 10:30 pm after he committed the heinous act before proceeding to Mbagathi Hospital, which is located seven kilometres from the scene of the crime, to seek medical attention.
Last week, detectives attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) visited his native home in Kisii County and at Kahawa West, where he lived.
The aim of the visit was to find out more about Matara.
The investigators, affiliated with the DCI homicide wing, made a grim discovery inside Matara’s modest one-bedroom house.
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.
Also read: Revealed: Crime scene details of brutal TRM Drive murder
An unnamed DCI officer, speaking to the Sunday Nation 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.”
In the aftermath of the murder of Ms Wahu, who was buried three days after her death, Nairobi News has established that Matara was also a musician.
Known by his musical alias ‘Rebelius Monk,’ he used music to voice societal woes.
Matara, a man of many talents, pursued a musical career and identified as a graphic designer.
Under the pseudonym ‘Rebelius Monk,’ he created a YouTube channel in March 2018 featuring 10 original releases exploring themes of a broken system and insurmountable societal issues.
By Nyaboga Kiage