NAIROBI, Kenya — Detectives investigating the killing of gospel artist Rachel Wandeto have ruled out earlier speculation linking the attack to a political tattoo, saying the case is now being treated as a homicide driven by money disputes and personal relationships.
Police sources indicate that the suspect in custody, identified as Josiah Njeru Njiri, who reportedly worked as Wandeto’s taxi driver, is at the centre of the ongoing investigation.
The suspect is expected to be arraigned as detectives seek custodial orders while pursuing additional individuals believed to have participated in the attack.
New motive under investigation
According to investigators, the dominant theory now points to financial disagreements, with claims that the suspect may have believed the victim had access to money from recent engagements, including alleged visits to the State House.
Authorities are also examining a possible personal dispute or love triangle involving the suspect and the deceased.
Police have clarified that the earlier public narrative linking the killing to a tattoo associated with political symbolism is not being treated as a motive in the case.
Attack and death
Wandeto was attacked on May 16 in Mwiki, Kasarani, along 11th Street off Obama Road, where she was allegedly assaulted, doused with a flammable substance, and set on fire.
She later succumbed to her injuries on May 18 at Kenyatta National Hospital, where she had been admitted with burns covering approximately 75 per cent of her body.
Investigation ongoing
Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin has confirmed the arrest, stating that homicide detectives are continuing to gather evidence and trace other suspects linked to the incident.
The case has drawn national attention due to its brutality and the shifting narratives around motive, as investigators work to establish the exact sequence of events leading to the killing.
Police say the probe remains active and further updates will be issued as new evidence emerges.
