When 23-year-old Ann Waithera vanished on the afternoon of May 21, 2025, her husband Zacharia Wanjohi was the first to raise the alarm. But what began as a frantic search soon spiralled into a chilling investigation, one that would turn the husband into the main suspect in a murder that has gripped Nakuru.
Waithera, an M-Pesa agent operating within Nakuru City, left her kiosk around 1pm to deposit Sh330,000 at a the Kenya Commercial Bank branch, and was never seen alive again.
Curiously, detectives say that just two hours after she disappeared, Wanjohi hurried to Nakuru Police Station to report her missing. The early timing raised eyebrows among officers.
Adding to the intrigue, two hours after Wanjohi’s visit to the police station, Stephen Mbuthia, the owner of the M-Pesa business where Waithera worked, also filed a report, this time accusing her of stealing by servant.
Wanjohi returned to the police station the following morning and managed to officially file a missing person’s report under OB Number 43/22/5/2025, triggering a formal investigation.
When The Nairobian visited Wanjohi at his home during the early days of the search, he was visibly emotional and struggling to hold back tears.
“I went to work that night, driving my taxi as usual on May 20. I left my wife and our three-year-old daughter at home. We spoke several times the next day. The last call came around 1pm, she asked me to send her Sh1,500 to get her hair done,” Wanjohi recounted.
Later that afternoon, he said, his mother-in-law called him, concerned that Waithera wasn’t picking up her phone. Alarmed, Wanjohi began calling her too, but received no response.
By around 4pm, Wanjohi had made his way into town and headed directly to Waithera’s M-Pesa kiosk, only to be told she had left earlier to deposit money at the bank and hadn’t returned.
“I reached out to some friends to help search for her. Then I went to the police station to file a report—but it wasn’t officially booked. They told me I had to wait until 24 hours had passed,” he said.
Upon further inquiry, Wanjohi claimed he was informed by a friend that Waithera’s mobile phone had been traced to the Kijabe area. However, what began as a desperate search for a missing wife soon took a dark turn.
The taxi driver alleged that during the investigation into the missing Sh330,000, his family was subjected to harassment by the police, who accused them of colluding with Waithera to steal the funds. He further claimed that officers confiscated Sh49,350 from him, insisting it was part of the stolen amount.
But in a dramatic twist, the man who once appeared to be going to great lengths to find his missing wife is now at the centre of the investigation—as the prime suspect in her murder.
Waithera’s decomposed body was discovered five days later, on May 26, dumped in a plantation at Technology Farm. Her husband was arrested shortly after.
On June 3, 2025, Wanjohi appeared before Principal Magistrate Vincent Adet at the Nakuru Law Courts, where detectives applied to detain him for 21 days pending further investigation. Corporal Richard Kipsang told the court that Wanjohi’s behaviour had been deemed “suspicious,” especially his visit to the police station just two hours after Waithera was last seen.
Preliminary findings placed both Waithera’s and Wanjohi’s phones in the same vicinity around the time she vanished—an assertion the suspect denied, saying a friend had tracked the signal and placed it in Kijabe, supposedly heading towards Nairobi.
Police are awaiting forensic results from Waithera’s post-mortem and believe more individuals may have been involved in her murder.
Detectives also revealed that another body had been discovered nearby on May 23, raising fears the area may be a dumping site.
“We’re yet to record statements from several key witnesses. Their input is crucial while the suspect remains in custody,” said Corporal Kipsang.
He also noted that Wanjohi’s phone data was still under analysis and might lead to other suspects.
Police further requested time to retrieve CCTV footage, conduct DNA and fingerprint testing, and complete a psychological assessment of the accused. Concerns were also raised that Wanjohi could interfere with witnesses if released.
In response, Wanjohi opposed the application for extended detention. He argued that no substantial evidence had been presented to justify holding him further, stressing that he had fully cooperated with the investigation and had, in fact, been the one to file the initial missing person report.
“I want to mourn and bury my wife. The reasons provided for keeping me in custody are speculative and lack supporting evidence,” he said.
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