Murder suspect John Matara met socialite Starlet Wahu on an online dating site dubbed “Bed Escorts” on January 1, 2024, before allegedly killing her at a short-stay rental apartment in South B, Nairobi where they physically met for the first time two days later.

This was revealed in an affidavit filed by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) who opposed Matara’s application for bail and bond terms.

In the affidavit, Sergeant Alex Chokera of Makadara DCI offices said Wahu went to the apartment at 7 pm on January 3, 2024, where she was received by Matara and taken to the AirBnB on the fourth floor of Papino Apartments.

Sgt. Chokera said Matara was seen by a security guard at a nearby apartment leaving the Papino apartment gate at around 9 pm with a blood-stained trouser and a towel around his neck.

The security guard invited another guard and they viewed the CCTV at the apartment where Matra had left and invited the AirBnB’s owner who visited and opened the house with the spare key and Ms Wahu’s lifeless body was found.

Sgt. Chokera says the owner of the apartment has expressed fears for her life given that she physically interacted with Matara whom she also gave her telephone contacts.

“I am therefore apprehensive that the accused is likely to use the said telephone number to threaten, intimidate and or coerce the said prosecution witness not to give evidence in this matter,” the states in the affidavit dated February 23, which has been shared with Matara’s lawyer.

The investigator states in the affidavit that several police stations have recorded several complaints from different women against Matara, who lured them to AirBnBs and committed criminal acts before fleeing.

The DCI officer has attached five occurrence book (OB) entry records of the incidents reported at police stations.

The accusations include rape, indecent act with adults, threatening to kill, and demanding money by menaces and assault.

Some of the incidents happened in Thika and Nairobi Central Business District but most of the victims reported the incidents at the Industrial Area police station after they learnt Matara was detained there.

There are similar complaints reported at the Kasarani police station and Kiwanja police post in Kasarani Sub County.

Sgt. Chokera said the complaints point to a likelihood of more charges in the future after ongoing investigations are completed.

The officer says after leaving the apartment where Ms Wahu’s body was found, Matara proceeded to South B Hospital a few kilometres away where he gave false identification as Fredrick Opondo while seeking treatment and told a clinician at the hospital that he had been stabbed by thieves along the road.

He added that Matara was a tenant at an apartment in Kasarani and his tenancy was terminated on January 4 after he was arrested therefore has no known fixed place of abode.

In his application for bail and bond, Matara had indicated that he is ready to abide by any terms to be set by the court. He dismissed allegations that he is likely to interfere with witnesses in the matter.

“There are no compelling reasons advanced for considerations before the court that will prejudice the prosecution if I am granted bail and bond by the honorable court,” he stated in the affidavit sworn by lawyer Samuel Ayora.

Ayora told Justice Kanyi Kimondo that he received the prosecution’s submissions opposing Matara’s release very late and he needed time to prepare, prompting the judge to postpone the matter to March 18.