Starlet Wahu Murder: Suspect John Matara Opens Up On Being Married, Divorcing Wife

John Matara, the main suspect in the murder of 26-year-old Instagram influencer and businesswoman, Starlet Wahu Mwangi, was a married man and had sired a child.

While revealing intricate details of his life to detectives, Matara further confessed that the marriage did not last long and had divorced his wife over a domestic dispute. However, he did not reveal his wife's location nor did he share further details.

Still, police believe that the woman may come forward and uncover more details regarding the alleged serial killer's past as well as his behaviour and circumstances that led to their divorce as they continue investigating the murder suspect.

Her statements may give detectives more clues regarding Matara's actions which were captured in a series of explosive confessions from women across Nairobi and Kiambu counties of how he lured them through dating websites while spending heavily on them before torturing and assaulting them, then robbing them of their money.

Should the former wife also break her silence, police could treat her as a key witness under a witness protection program as they continue to gather evidence that they believe could mount a strong case against Matara, whom reports had revealed was once a reggae musician.

Matara's family has yet to comment on the murder suspect's alleged troubled past. However, residents of Daraja Mbili in Kisii County where the 34-year-old suspect grew up had earlier revealed that he was a God-fearing person who led the youth in Bible study and music and could sing, at some point.

Police investigating the matter were on January 5, 2023, granted 21 days to hold the suspect. As of Thursday, January 11, they had two weeks to interrogate him fully.

Matara also claimed that he did not kill Wahu as alleged and that he only stabbed her in the thigh and not the chest or head as was reported. Her body was found at an Airbnb in South B, Nairobi, soaked in blood and had multiple bruises and stab wounds all around the thighs.

According to previously released postmortem results, Wahu died as a result of haemorrhage, which is the loss of blood from a damaged blood vessel.

The murder had prompted a series of women to come out and confess how Matara sexually assaulted and robbed his victims of their money from their mobile and bank accounts.

As several women have come out to record statements accusing him of committing the crimes, media reports revealed how Matara crafted a small team of men and women who terrorised men seeking sexual favours in suburbs such as Roysambu and beyond.

Speaking to the press, Makadara DCIO Martin Korongo indicated that he was waiting for his counterpart in Ruiru to hand him another file where Matara is linked to a case concerning another woman who was robbed of money by force.

"I am waiting for my colleague from Ruiru sub-county to bring a file and a sealed report to the DCI department in the Njiru area where the suspect Matara is linked to other crimes," Korongo revealed.

He added that after the completion of the investigation, he will combine both cases so that Matara will be charged with murder and armed robbery.

The detectives had already found the house where the suspect lived in Kahawa West. After mounting a raid at the house where he lived, police found a bed, clothes and one chair.

In addition, Korongo revealed that detectives have other reports about other crime incidents in the Ngong and Kasarani area targeting Matara as a suspect.

A past photo of John Matara. /FILE