Calls for probe as senior NLC officer laid to rest

**Jennifer Wambua's casket at Machakos Golf Club.** [John Muia, Standard]

Security agencies have been challenged to unravel the mystery surrounding the brutal murder of senior National Land Commission (NLC) official, Jennifer Wambua.

Several leaders who joined hundreds of mourners at Ms Wambua’s funeral service at the Machakos Golf Club Wednesday demanded that the perpetrators of her killing be expeditiously hunted down and brought to justice.

Machakos Town MP, Victor Munyaka, his Yatta counterpart Charles Kilonzo and former Kibwezi legislator, Kalembe Ndile termed Ms Wambua’s death as an ‘escalation of impunity’ in the criminal underworld of land cartels.

“We will petition Parliament to establish an inquiry not only into the death of Jennifer but also into dozens of other reported deaths across the country which have been linked to land matters,” Dr Munyaka said.

Munyaka said other organs of the State including the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) should be involved in the delicate mission of dismantling the criminal ring which is involved in execution of witnesses in land disputes.

His sentiments were echoed by Kilonzo, who demanded that Ms Wambua’s killers be brought to book. “We know that she was a State witness in a multi-million land case. We will give the investigators time to do their job and expect results,” said the Yatta MP.

The legislator also demanded to know why being a State witness in a sensitive land case, the deceased was not offered protection.

“These are some of the critical questions we are demanding answers for. We expect thorough and conclusive investigation into the matter and not just empty promises by security agencies,” he said.

Kalembe urged the State to examine all the land cases the deceased may have dealt with in the line of her duty in order to find possible leads to the motive of her murder.

NLC chairman, Gershon Otachi eulogized Ms Wambua as a jovial and dedicated officer who discharged her responsibilities with utmost diligence.

“Jennifer worked with the commission for seven years and she had an extremely gentle soul. As a commission, we have lost a dedicated and friendly colleague, but we find solace in knowing bad things happen to good people,” said Otachi.

He added that the commission will cooperate with all the authorities investigating the murder.

Jennifer’s husband, Joseph Komu eulogized her as a wonderful companion with whom they raised their two children. “You were much more than a dear wife and a mother of our two children. We grew from strangers, to friends and eventually as husband and wife. All I can do is be thankful for having you in my life for the past 27 years,” he said.

Until her death, Ms Wambua was the deputy director of corporate communications at the NLC. She went missing after reporting to her office on March 12, 2021, and her body was later found dumped in Ngong forest the following day.

She is survived by two children, Irene Mutheu and Kelvin.