The family of the late Pastor Elizabeth Wanjiru Githigi claims their kin was killed by gospel singer-cum-pastor Paul Mathenge Nderi alias Dishon Mirugi over a debt he owed the deceased.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, outside Kenyatta Memorial Funeral Home after a postmortem was conducted on the deceased, the family demanded justice insisting pastor Elizabeth was killed, strongly denying claims by Dishon that the deceased committed suicide.
The family claimed that the deceased confided in them that she was being threatened by Dishon, with the source of their conflict being Ksh700,000 she is said to have loaned the suspect.
Pastor Elizabeth's sister Esther Mugure said that the deceased told her in December that Dishon vowed to kill her if she persisted in demanding that he repays her the Ksh700,000 debt.
"Ikiwa mwezi wa Disemba aliweza kuniita kutoka Isinya nikuje Nairobi. Akanifahamisha kwamba alikua anapokea threats kutoka kwa Dishon Mirugi ambaye ni mwimbaji na ni pastor pia mwenzake.
Message zilikua zinamuambia 'ukiendelea kunifwata kunidai pesa yako ntakumaliza na mimi ni untouchable hakuna mahali utanipeleka'," Esther said.
The deceased's mother Tabitha Mwihaki added; "Mtoto anaanza kuniambia mum pesa yangu imepotea. Nkamuambia aende polisi ya huko uripoti."
The threats saw late pastor Elizabeth Wanjiru make a report at Juja police station and Kiamumbi police post after the suspect allegedly traced her movements.
It was not until Friday, March 17 that the late told her sister that she had made up her mind to go collect her cash at Dishon's house in Kahawa West as she was cash-strapped and had to repay loans.
"Alinipigia simu masaa ya saa saba akaniambia 'dadangu ile siku nimeishi kukuambia naona ni kama imefika kwa sababu sasa nimeamua kuenda kwa Dishon kuitisha ile pesa yangu," Esther said.
Esther added that her late sister could not be reached on her phone after she informed her she was going to Dishon's house to collect her money.
"Saturday pia tulishinda tukimpigia simu hakushika simu wala hakuturudishia messages. Sunday tukamjaribu asubui tukamkosa. Nilijaribu kupiga hio simu tena ikachukuliwa na DCI. Aliniambia dada yenu hayuko tena," said Esther.
The family didn't know that when they were calling their kin she had already died. Dishon spent Saturday moving around with the body of the late pastor Elizabeth in his car after he allegedly discovered the body in her wardrobe.
He claimed that the deceased hanged herself with a bed sheet. A postmortem conducted at Kenyatta Memorial Funeral Home revealed that pastor Elizabeth died as a result of pressure to the neck although it was not conclusive if it was strangulation or hanging.
Pathologists have taken more samples for toxicological analysis.
Pastor Elizabeth Wanjiru's sister Esther said that she fears for her life because everybody knows she has the evidence to tie Dishon to the death of the deceased.
"Tunaona pia mimi maisha yangu iko hatarini kwa sababu wote wanajua nko na ile evidence ya sister yangu," she said.
Meanwhile, Dishon was arrested on Sunday and arraigned in Makadara law court on Wednesday.
Investigations into the death of pastor Elizabeth Wanjiru continue as Dishon remains in custody until Friday, March 24, awaiting the ruling on his application to be released on bond.
