He Can Sing- Kisii Residents Open Up On John Matara's God-Fearing Past

Residents of Daraja Mbili in Kisii County where 34-year-old John Matara, who is the main suspect in the murder of 26-year-old Starlet Wahu Mwangi, brought to light the good side of Matara while expressing disbelief at the surging number of horrific accusations against him.

Speaking to Citizen TV on Wednesday, January 10, two of his former friends claimed that Matara was a God-fearing Christian who led the youth in Bible study and music.

One of them revealed that Matara was fond of showing up early to church before Bible studies and at some point, could sing well.

"I used to see him come to church early before we even began lessons, he knows how to sing...he sings well and it reaches a point where he becomes human when he starts tackling issues," the friend divulged.

A past photo of John Matara. /FILE

Another disclosed that Matara knew all about the church, noting that the events that took place were terrifying to any human being, though he expressed that there are times that one witnesses a downfall, seemingly attributing the explosive confessions by scores of women following Wahu's murder as one of them.

Elsewhere in Kahawa West, Kiambu County, where Matara reportedly moved to having been kicked out of apartments close to Kenyatta University (KU), a food vendor who sold him bhajia remarked his polite and harmless character and that his involvement in a murder case and other cases of sexual assault was a big shock.

"He was a kind person who didn't even talk much...I served him and he didn't even pay in cash, he sent mobile money. He used to request for a portion of bhajia for Ksh50 which he pays for, and leaves with it," the vendor narrated.

Matara reportedly moved to a one-bedroomed house, located 50 metres off the main road in Kahawa West and constantly entertained women despite living by himself.

In his house, which detectives working the case and journalists searched amidst heightening investigations, Matara had only one seat, a table, and a computer in the sitting room.

The other items were empty alcohol bottles, books, and a carpet, with the wall containing notes on different subjects.

It was further reported that the suspect did not declare where he worked when he moved into the house in August 2023 and was fond of spending the day in the house, leaving in the evening and returning in the dead of night.

The building's caretaker corroborated Matara's lifestyle as a lover of alcohol who could be seen in the company of women who visited his house, though he admitted to having no idea of his changed habits which have seen countless women accuse him of luring them through online websites and assaulting them before robbing them of their wares and money.

"We did not see that habit when he was staying here...he looked like a good person...now we are shocked that it is him who did it (killed Wahu).

"He used to spend the afternoons at home and at night, he leaves and comes back late, at around 2 am. We have a guard down here who says he used to come back drunk in the company of women, they do what they do then he escorts them out," the caretaker divulged.

However, it emerged that Matara was struggling financially to the point of not paying his rent.

Police investigating the matter were on January 5, 2023, granted 21 days to hold the suspect as they probe the matter.

Matara was accused of enticing women through dating sites as well as spending heavily on them in exchange for a steamy night before assaulting and robbing them.

Nairobi-based Pastor Victor Kanyari, the founder of Salvation Healing Ministry and the late Wahu's sister, claimed that Matara had demanded the deceased close to Ksh500,000 before fatally stabbing her in the neck.

The ordeal has since roped in an upcoming politician from Kajiado County accused of using the same tactics on women before being picked by Matara, working as a taxi driver.

One of the incidents linking the politician happened at Papino Apartments in South B, Nairobi, the same residence where Wahu was found murdered on Thursday.