3rd suspect in murder of Rwanda-based contractor George Mwangi nabbed, arraigned

By , K24 Digital
On Mon, 7 Nov, 2022 13:19 | 3 mins read
Twist as 3rd suspect in murder of Rwanda-based contractor George Mwangi becomes witness
John Mwangi, the third suspect in the murder of Rwanda-based Kiambu businessman George Mwangi at the Kiambu Law Courts. PHOTO/ Clement Kamau.

The third suspect linked with the cold-blood murder of Rwanda-based businessman George Mwangi Kamau has been arrested by detectives.

In a statement, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) says the suspect; John Muikiriria Mwangi, who reportedly went missing on the same day the 58-year-old businessman was murdered, was nabbed at Karinga location in Gatundu South.

This brings the total number of suspects to three, including the deceased's wife, Gladys Chania, who is the main suspect and Morris Kamau Mbugua.

"The arrest follows comprehensive investigations conducted by sleuths from the homicide department, who took over investigations into the murder," DCI said.

It is said that John who had worked at Chania's home for years failed to return home after he was sent to deposit some money.

"According to Chania, John Mwangi, who had worked at the home for four years allegedly failed to return home after she sent him to deposit some money on Mpesa," part of the statement read.

Adding;

"The seasoned detectives found it was too much of a coincidence that the second accused Morris Kamau Mbugua was hired on October 8, 2022, by the main suspect Gladys Njeri Mwangi Alias Chania, a day before the death and disappearance of the deceased while John Muikiriria Mwangi, went missing on the same day."

The third suspect was arraigned this morning at Kiambu law courts.

He, however, didn't take plea with investigators making a miscellaneous application to detain him as they complete their investigations.

Kiambu Resident Magistrate Wilson Radin approved the investigators' request to hold him.

Gladys Chania charged with murder of her husband

On November 2, the Kiambu politician was formally charged with the offence.  

Gladys Chania alongside her co-accused Morris Mbugua who appeared before Kiambu High Court Judge Mary Kasango were charged with jointly murdering the late contractor who has since been buried. 

The duo denied the charges.

The court heard that the accused planned and executed the macabre murder of the deceased who was Chania's husband of 28 years. 

She will now remain in remand at the Langata Women's Prison for the next four months when her application to be released on bail will be heard while Morris will be remanded at the Kamiti maximum security prison. 

The suspect who had last week been released on a Ksh1million cash bail and a surety of a similar amount but failed to raise the same will appear before the court on November 29, 2022.

Gladys Chania alongside her co-accused Morris Mbugua who appeared before Kiambu High Court Judge Mary Kasango were charged with joint murder of the late contractor who has since been buried. 
PHOTO/Clement Kamau
Gladys Chania alongside her co-accused Morris Mbugua who appeared before Kiambu High Court Judge Mary Kasango were charged with joint murder of the late contractor who has since been buried. 
PHOTO/Clement Kamau

Chania arrested over husband murder

Chania who unsuccessfully ran for the Kiambu Woman Representative during the August polls was arrested couple of weeks ago in connection with the macabre murder of her husband.

His charred body was found dumped at Kieni forest with investigators zeroing their investigations into a love triangle. 

It is alleged that after establishing that the father of their three children was intimately involved with another woman, she is suspected to have planned his gruesome murder.

The Rwanda-based contractor came to Kenya on September 13, 2022, not knowing that his death was beckoning. 

According to reliable sources, Mwangi and his wife had a frosty relationship after she established that he was having an intimate relationship with one Lucy Muthoni. 

Mwangi's family members revealed to sleuths that the deceased had introduced Lucy to family members as his second wife. 

The late Mwangi was buried on Thursday, October 27 at his matrimonial Mang'u home in a sombre ceremony which took less than two hours.

Chania did not attend the burial ceremony as she was in police custody but she did a eulogy which was read on her behalf by a relative. 

Additional reporting by Clement Kamau.