Husband of murdered M-pesa woman now a suspect

Zachariah Wanjohi before Principal Magistrate Vincent Adet on June 5, 2025. He is the main suspect in the murder of his wife Hannah Waithera, an M-Pesa agent who went missing on May 21, 2025. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

The husband of a 23-year-old woman whose body was found dumped at Technology Farm in Nakuru on May 26, 2025, is the main suspect in her murder.

Zacharia Wanjohi was arraigned on Wednesday before Principal Magistrate Vincent Adet as detectives sought permission to detain him for 21 days, pending investigations.

Corporal Richard Kipsang informed the court that Hannah Wangari, who was working as an M-Pesa agent, went missing on May 21 as she was heading to deposit Sh330,000 at Kenya Commercial Bank, around 1pm.

He said that, surprisingly, Wanjohi went to the police station two hours later and filed a missing person’s report. The police became suspicious and declined to record it as it was too early.

“Stephen Mbuthia, the owner of the M-Pesa shop, filed a theft by servant report at 5pm,” he told the court.

He added that Wanjohi went back to the police station the following day, and he filed the report under OB 43/22/5/2025 and investigations commenced.

According to Kipsang, preliminary investigations placed Wangari’s mobile phone in the same place as that of Wanjohi, but when confronted, he denied.

“When interrogated, the suspect said a friend had tracked his wife’s mobile phone and found it in Kijabe, heading to Nairobi. It raised more suspicions,” he said.

He said police searched for missing Wangari and found her body at Technology Farm on May 26.

Kipsang said he needed time to get forensic examination results of samples removed from her body during the postmortem.

“We are yet to record statements of crucial witnesses we believe will assist us in the investigation. It is crucial that we get their statements while the suspect is in custody,” said the officer.

He said that the detectives needed time to analyse the suspect’s mobile, which would help them arrest other suspects, noting that investigations show that Wangari was killed by more than one person.

Further, the detective said another body had been retrieved from the same area on May 23, and they believe that the area might be a dumping site for bodies.

He added that they also needed to retrieve CCTV footage that may help nab the suspect.

“We need to interrogate the suspect further, do a DNA sample and compare it with the victim’s and conduct a mental assessment and fingerprint assessment,” he said.

The court also heard that the suspect may interfere with witnesses.

In response, Wanjohi opposed his detention. He said no sufficient reasons were raised to detain him.

He insisted that he cooperated with the police officers during investigations and the same can proceed while he is out on bond, adding that he was the one who filed the missing person’s report

“I also want to mourn and bury my wife, and I believe the reasons raised are speculative as no evidence has been produced,” stated Wanjohi.