Gospel musician Ruth Matete grilled again over death of husband

Gospel musician Ruth Matete was Tuesday grilled by police investigating the death of her husband John Apewajoye.

She was summoned to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters where she spent hours responding to questions. It was the second time the officers were talking to her.

The detectives also went to Ms Matete's home in Athi River, Machakos County to collect more evidence to establish events that preceded Apewajoye's death.

Detectives from homicide unit have taken over the probe into the April 11 incident.

On Tuesday, she was in the company of her father Mr Abel Amunga, lawyer Mr Robert Odanga and a female friend.

Mr Odanga told journalists that his client was asked to narrate events that led to the gas cylinder accident earlier reported as the cause of her husband's death.

Apewajoye's post-mortem was moved to Thursday.

Apewajoye, a Nigerian, died in hospital after sustaining burns in the couple’s house at Great Wall Gardens Estate in Athi River.

The gas cylinder incident on March 30 was initially described as an accident by DCI detectives based at Athi River Police Station.

Ms Matete said Apewajoye was initially taken to Shallom Hospital and later transferred to Bellevue South and admitted to the high dependency unit before being moved to Kenyatta National Hospital where he succumbed.

During her grilling by detectives on what led to her husband’s demise, Matate, the 2012 Tusker Project Fame star told police her husband succumbed two weeks after he suffered burn wounds sustained at the couple’s house.

Police and officials from Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority officials visited the house where the incident happened after a gas cylinder exploded. The gas cylinder is among exhibits that were collected from the house.

Ms Matete told police her husband’s upper body was burnt on March 30 at around 5pm after a failed attempt to light up their six kilograms gas cylinder after a refill.

According to the singer, the Nigerian was only wearing a pair of trousers when he took the cylinder from their kitchen to the balcony after he thought it was over refilled and wanted to release some gas.

She said immediately after he tried to light the gas and that is when it exploded engulfing the husband as he rushed into the house seeking help. She said she ran into the bedroom to get a duvet to cover him and put out the flames while screaming for help, which attracted the attention of her neighbours.

It was then that they took him to hospital where he was admitted to the high dependency unit.

At least ten witnesses, including first responders, have recorded their statements with the DCI over the incident.