Huruma murder: Person of interest tells court police coerced him to sign statement
A person of interest in the murder of a 16-year-old lady Joyce Munanie, John Kyama Wambua on Monday, February 17, 2025, told a Milimani court that he was pushed to sign a statement in police station.
Appearing before Magistrate Carolyne Nyaguthii, Kyama urged court to intervene for he was pushed to sign statement that was not his.
“I plead with the court to help me because I was forced to sign a statement that did not come from me,” Kyama told court.
However, he failed to tell court who forced him to sign the statement stating he was pushed by police officer not mentioning names.
Further, the magistrate asked him whether the Directorate of Criminal Investigation Officer (DCIO) handling his case Kassim Yakub was the one who forced him.
Kyama replied the court by shaking his head as a sign to say no.
Magistrate Nyaguthii informed Kyama that the issue he raised will be handled by the trial court.
“Today’s session was to confirm the completion of investigations, the trial court will address your claim of being forced to sign the statement,” magistrate Nyaguthii told Kyama.
Magistrate Nyaguthii extended custodian orders for Kyama for two weeks to allow the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) review the case.
This came after Prosecution requested two weeks to evaluate the report and decide whether to proceed with formal charges against the suspect.
Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) submitted its investigations report to court confirming inquiries had been completed and forwarded the file to DPP.
However, on February 6, 2025, Munanie’s family led by the chairman Musya Langi, left many in shock after it was said that they want an out-of-court settlement.
Speaking after the burial of the late Munanie at Musukuni in Mwingi Central Kitui County, Langi said that they want the case to be withdrawn from court to be handled by the clan.
Langi said both the late lady and the accused, John Kyama Wambua, come from the same area, and the matter should be settled at home.
“This issue happened, and it involved our own two children from this village because both parties come from the same area; their homes are 100 meters apart,” said chairman Langi.
Additionally, Langi said that they want the accused to be released to explain to his people what happened, after which they will settle the matter at home as per the traditions because they are one family.
He said that leaving the accused to be jailed will be like losing both children, and since they have buried the late one, they should not bury the other one alive.
Meanwhile, the chairman urged the youths to take care of each other when they decide to cohabit or get married.
On January 22, 2025, Milimani High Court Senior Principal Magistrate Gilbert Shikwe granted the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) 21 days to detain John Kyama Wambua to complete investigations.
DCI was seeking to detain Wambua at Ruaraka police station to complete investigations on a case where he is linked to the murder of a 16-year-old lady, Joy Fridah Munanie, on January 20, 2025, in the Kasonova area within Nairobi County.
According to an affidavit sworn by DCI and presented in court, Wambua confessed to them that he found his partner with another man, which prompted a heated argument between the two before Wambua committed the act.
“That respondent alleged that he found his partner named Joy Fridah Munani (deceased) with another man, and when they got to the house, an argument ensued that led to him committing the act and later chopping the body in order to dispose of it,” the affidavit read in parts.
Murder case
According to the application filed by the DCI officer Kassim Yakub from Starehe Sub-County, they will be investigating the accused over a case of murder contrary to Section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code Cap 63 Laws of Kenya.
Notably, the DCI officer Yakub in his report stated that some of the body parts of the deceased were still missing and that the accused’s life was in danger considering that the community is now aware of the act he committed, which can lead them to harm him.
The report also stated that if released, the suspect might interfere with the investigation process since they have not yet recovered all the weapons used in committing the act.
“The respondent can interfere with the investigations since we are yet to recover another murder weapon, which we suspect to be a panga,” the affidavit read.
Yakub also added that investigations into the circumstances and facts surrounding the incident are ongoing.
Wambua was arrested on January 21, 2025, at around 5:00 am around Kelly Towers in Huruma and booked at Huruma police station at 6:50 am.
Kyama will take his plea on March 3, 2025.
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