Murder Ciru
By Wairi
Sometimes features amateur history.
Explores cases of murder in Kenya, with a focus on femicide.
No explicit content.
Murder CiruJan 18, 2024
minisode - Lessons
(Listener discretion is always recommended)
Five (5 things I have learned from making and consuming true crime content
Stay safe out there
minisode - Starlet Wahu
(This is a true crime podcast. Listener discertion is advised.)
The death of a beautiful young woman raises a pertinent discussion. Everything at this point is allegations, speculations, some informed and others seemingly mean-spirited. She did not deserve such a brutal death, no matter what her occupation was. And we can't be sure what her occupation actually was. Women being unaware of how dangerous the men they spend time with are. A pattern has emerged over the seasons. What are your thoughts? Sources - Citizen TV, K24, BTG News
episode 21 - Exports
What a strange concept, to export crime. And yet, it happens..
sources
https://www.greensburgdailynews.com/news/local_news/illinois-man-facing-rape-charge/article_93098c13-36b1-5698-bdda-973d2b9b0019.html
https://nairobinews.nation.africa/family-of-kenyan-man-in-us-accused-of-rape-by-uber-customer-seeks-help/
https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Flookaside.fbsbx.com%2Flookaside%2Fcrawler%2Fmedia%2F%3Fmedia_id%3D175274570667531&tbnid=EatO2yTcPbZHGM&vet=12ahUKEwj6-ob-88OCAxX1FGIAHR1QDFkQMygBegQIARAw..i&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FUSTNC2020%2Fphotos%2Fa.103883697806619%2F175274570667531%2F%3Ftype%3D3&docid=mgS2z4HZ1cd51M&w=1440&h=1440&itg=1&q=Kennedy%20Wambua%20Masila&client=firefox-b-e&ved=2ahUKEwj6-ob-88OCAxX1FGIAHR1QDFkQMygBegQIARAw
https://trellis.law/doc/99349326/certificate-of-assignment-received
https://fox4kc.com/news/good-samaritans-help-catch-alleged-rapist/
https://jambonewspot.wordpress.com/2012/02/23/kenyan-in-kansas-in-jail-after-allegedly-raping-woman-in-car/
https://fox4kc.com/news/eric-wanjiku-is-a-free-man/
https://www.mwakilishi.com/article/diaspora-news/2019-09-05/kenyan-man-accused-of-raping-former-lover-arrested-in-oklahoma
https://nairobinews.nation.africa/kenyan-arrested-in-us-for-kidnapping-assaulting-and-raping-ex-girlfriend/
https://kenyapoa.wordpress.com/2015/09/07/two-kikuyu-men-accused-of-rape-in-two-disturbing-incidents-in-the-usa/
https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2015/09/hoover_man_scaled_apartment_ba.html
https://www.seattlepi.com/seattlenews/article/Charge-Paid-caregiver-raped-severely-disabled-6483881.php
https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2019-08-24-kenyan-man-jailed-for-life-in-the-us-for-raping-elderly-patient/
https://www.citizen.digital/news/kenyan-man-in-texas-jailed-for-life-for-raping-74yr-old-patient-270653
https://kdrtv.co.ke/usa/kenyan-man-in-the-us-jailed-for-20-years-after-raping-79-year-old-granny/
https://allafrica.com/stories/201912310152.html
https://diasporamessenger.com/2022/01/kenyan-man-charged-with-raping-a-nursing-home-resident-in-kansas/
https://www.mwakilishi.com/article/diaspora-news/2022-01-29/kenyan-man-charged-with-raping-an-86-year-old-woman-at-a-nursing-home
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/sep/19/billy-chemirmir-killed-prison-serial-killer-texas
https://globalnews.ca/news/9973831/serial-killer-billy-chemirmir-dead-cellmate/
https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/texas/serial-killer-billy-chemirmir-killed-in-prison/285-ffbc9429-cd4f-4f7d-b19a-825c6ea0de25
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/man-suspected-death-woman-found-dead-vehicle-boston-airport-allegedly-rcna123536
https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/missing-woman-found-dead-in-car-logan-airport-boston-massachusetts-wbz-tv-i-team/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/11/03/margaret-mbitu-death-boston-logan-kevin-kangethe-sought/71438508007/
https://www.boston25news.com/news/local/warrant-man-flew-kenya-hours-before-girlfriend-found-stabbed-death-car-logan-airport/6K7DQ4Q725FTRI36NB3GDIQRQU/
https://www.boston25news.com/news/local/whitman-police-searching-missing-woman-last-seen-halifax/D4JIOTENLVCNNHATPCWH3PNEGM/
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/francis-ngugi-guilty-plea-poisoned-cereal-girl-death-1.6971912
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/mobile/man-convicted-of-fatally-poisoning-toronto-toddler-s-breakfast-cereal-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-1.6629927?cache=/7.393989
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/mobile/she-was-an-innocent-child-man-gets-life-sentence-in-fatal-poisoning-of-toddler-s-breakfast-cereal-1.6629927?cache=almppngbro?autoPlay=true
episode 20 - Agnes Wanjiru
Synopsis
Agnes Wanjiru, 21, and mother of a then 5 month old baby, was murdered in 2012 after spending the night with a soldier (or soldiers) stationed and training at The British Army Training Unit (BATUK) in Nanyuki, Kenya at the time.
This episode explores the events surrounding her disappearance and murder, and the facts available in the public domain up until now.
The murder is still unresolved as of the date of publication of this podcast.
Sources
NTV Kenya
The Guardian
BBC
The Metro
The Mirror
sky news
City A.M.
Music credit
Title - Packed Ramen, by the legend, Zeeky Beats (prod.zeekybeats)
episode 19 - Stella Kurgat
(This podcast discusses homicide, and related matters of a sensitive nature. Listener discretion is advised.)
This is a short one
It is kind of a listener request. I think you will know yourself, but just in case.. Thank you E.
Stella Kurgat - Where is she?
Sources -
nation.africa
Nation YouTube
episode 18 - Mary Lilian
(This podcast discusses homicide, and related matters of a sensitive nature. Listener discretion is advised.)
On a nondescript Monday in February this year (2023), a woman was shot on a nondescript street in Nairobi. Her name is Mary Lilian Waithira, and she later succumbed to her injuries and died.
The circumstances surrounding her death are still a mystery. Who shot her? Why? Listen in to hear the facts in this bizarre case.
Rip Mary Lilian.
sources -
nation.africa
standardmedia.co.ke
NTV Kenya YouTube
Citizen TV Kenya YouTube
https://www.wbir.com/article/news/expert-the-average-person-doesnt-realize-how-far-a-bullet-from-a-gun-travels/51-f188eea5-8a8c-4a87-8f86-2cb9ee728275
episode 17 - Josephine Karimi
(This podcast discusses homicide, and related matters of a sensitive nature. Listener discretion is advised.)
24 year old Josephine Kawira was supposed to the safe at the Catholic Women's Association in Kiaragana, Embu County, where she worked as a secretary. But when she suddenly went missing, her family feared the worst. Their fears were to be realised and then some when, about a week after reporting her missing after finding her not present at her workplace, her decomposing body was found in a pit latrine. A suspect is in custody.
Listen in as we discuss what is known so far in the unfortunate disappearance and murder of Josephine Kawira (RIP).
Sources - https://www.the-star.co.ke/counties/eastern/2023-07-05-kiaragana-murder-suspect-detained-for-further-14-days/
https://nation.africa/kenya/counties/embu/broken-ribs-and-limbs-autopsy-reveals-the-horrific-torture-of-embu-secretary-before-death-4296192
https://nation.africa/kenya/counties/embu/shock-as-woman-killed-inside-embu-catholic-church-centre-4292524#google_vignette
episode 16 - Brenda Kawira
(This podcast discusses homicide, and related matters of a sensitive nature. Listener discretion is advised.)
In this one, we talk about the tragic and untimely demise of Brenda Kawira, a young woman with a future full of promise. Kawira is alleged to have died by suicide at an apartment complex in Kasarani, Nairobi, Kenya.
The only witness to this alleged suicide is the boyfriend of Brenda, who is (allegedly) adversely mentioned in a diary entry penned by Kawira shortly preceding her demise, an entry that was seen by Kawira's sister after she died.
Kawira's death is among at least four similar deaths of young people who died (by jumping, falling, or being pushed?) from high rise apartment buildings in the Kasarani area of Nairobi. Is there something in the water? In the air?
Another prominent and disturbing detail in this case is that the family of Brenda Kawira vehemently dispute this "death-by-suicide" narrative, raising suspicion of foul play.
Will they find answers to the questions they have raised?
Sources -
nation.africa - https://nation.africa/kenya/news/police-and-her-boyfriend-say-brenda-kawira-died-by-suicide-her-family-disagrees-4163580
Lynn Ngugi speaks with the family of Brenda Kawira https://youtu.be/1JdvUipbAHo (Lynn Ngugi YouTube Channel)
episode 15 - Chrizo (Christine Ambani)
(This podcast discusses homicide, and related matters of a sensitive nature. Listener discretion is advised.)
In this episode - the events surrounding the murder of Christine Ambani, in July of 2021, in Nairobi, Kenya.
Did things a bit different in this ep, can you tell?
My sources for this episode were the following reputed Kenyan news networks:
KTN News Kenya (Facebook)
standardmedia.co.ke
k24tv.co.ke
Track used - Elle (11) by prazi kwantel, prod by Matthew May. All other music from Anchor (Spotify for Podcasters)
episode 14: Gachie
Gachie
two good things, and a lot of history
"118, chief waruhiu, we merked him" - YouTube comment on a news piece about Gachie
sources:
NTV Kenya (YouTube)
nation.africa
www.standardmedia.co.ke
episode 13: Careen Chepchumba
Rest In Peace Careen Chepchumba
Sources:
nation.africa
www.standardmedia.co.ke
KTN Casefiles (YouTube)
Paradise Lost: The story of Louis Otieno (podcast)
NTV Kenya (YouTube)
Citizen TV Kenya (YouTube)
KTN News (YouTube)
episode 12: Irene Wairimu Gakwa
She was last seen on a WhatsApp video call with her parents. She appeared thinner, and visibly tired. She was 32 when she went missing. Her 33rd birthday has come and gone, and her whereabouts are still unknown.
Where is Irene?
correction:
90 pounds is actually 40.8233133 kilograms.
sources:
cnn.com
nation.africa
Citizen TV Digital
City of Gillete (Government) Facebook account
episode 11: Catherine Nyokabi
In April of 2021, the life of Catherine Nyokabi was snuffed out, allegedly by her reportedly secret boyfriend Evans Karani, a married man several years her senior. The case is ongoing. Rest in peace Nyokabi.
Please say a prayer for the child who survived Nyokabi, who will have to grow up without their mother.
sources: KTN News Kenya, Citizen TV Kenya, Kenyans.co.ke, mpasho.co.ke
episode 10: Velvine Nungari Kinyanjui
(This podcast discusses crime of a violent nature, listener discretion and parental guidance are recommended.)
#justiceforvesh
Velvine Nungari, a 24 year old Kenyan woman, was brutally raped and murdered in Nairobi. The main suspect is Joseph Kinyua, whose murder trial is ongoing. Rest in peace Vesh.
Sources: Citizen TV Kenya, Citizen Digital, NTV Kenya, KTN News Kenya, Kenyans.co.ke, Directorate of Criminal Investigation Twitter, Usikimye Facebook page
episode 9: Ivy Wangechi
(This podcast discusses crime of a violent nature, listener discretion and parental guidance are recommended.)
One of the most horrific, public slayings, modern Kenya has ever witnessed took place in 2019 in Eldoret, a major town in the beautiful Rift Valley.
The life of a 24 year old woman, a daughter, a friend to many, and then a 6th year medical school student at Moi University School of Medicine student, was ended by the cruel and vicious acts of an individual who had once claimed he wanted to marry her. In this episode we highlight the tragic murder of Ivy Wangechi, and discuss a bit of the social commentary that arose following her demise.
This episode features excerpts of actual news reports about the event, and the sound quality is not the greatest.
Music used in this episode is made by the legendary Zeeky Beats.
Sources include: KTN News Kenya, Nation Media Kenya, Citizen TV Kenya, K24 TV Kenya, Standard Newspaper Kenya Stay safe and take care of yourselves.
episode 8: Mercy Chepkosgei Keino
(This podcast discusses crime of a violent nature, listener discretion and parental guidance are recommended.)
In the middle of June, 2011, on one of Nairobi’s busiest highways, early one Saturday morning, the unalive body of a young woman was found. She would later be identified as Mercy Keino and though her death is unresolved to date, the subsequent investigations would reveal that her last night alive was quite a dramatic one. The aftermath would see a number of people adversely mentioned in connection to her death, including a prominent member of government at the time. And although an inquest cleared him of involvement, the connection has haunted (tainted?) his life and political career ever since.
In this episode, we explore the last moments of the life of Mercy Chepkosgei Keino, revisiting the events as they were described by witnesses at the inquest up to the point that she was found tragically unalive on the highway.
Sources:
KTN News Kenya YouTube channel (various news clips)
Kenya CitizenTV YouTube channel (various news clips)
https://nation.africa/kenya/news/mercy-keino-benz-owner-surrenders-to-police-773686?view=htmlamp
Special mentions:
KTN News Kenya Case Files: Who killed University student Mercy Keino?
KTN News Kenya Case Files: The mysterious killing of a Masters in Journalism Student Mercy Keino
iNooro TV (Kenya): Waiyaki wa Hinga na uthamaki wake
Music: Zeeky Beats - Red Cheeks
episode 7 - The Dark Side of Matatu Culture
(This podcast discusses crime of a violent nature, listener discretion and parental guidance are recommended.)
Matatu, a ubiquitous and necessary part of urban Kenyan life, past and present, but some women really do pay too dear a price for a little public transportation. From sexual assault, to physical violence and even death, these incidents and stories of brutality against women have dogged matwana/matatu culture for a long time.
In this episode, we highlight a few cases of violence, and death involving women in matatu.
(The actual episode starts at this time stamp: 3:07)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
https://www.kahawatungu.com/woman-dies-after-being-thrown-off-memba-sacco-matatu-over-fare/
https://www.kahawatungu.com/ntsa-takes-action-against-tout-throwing-woman-vehicle/
Mbugua wa Mungai, and David A. Samper. “‘No Mercy, No Remorse’: Personal Experience Narratives about Public Passenger Transportation in Nairobi, Kenya.” Africa Today, vol. 52, no. 3, 2006, pp. 51–81. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/4187721. Accessed 1 June 2021.
Music: Zeeky Beats - Blurred (legend, thank you always..)
episode 6 - Julie A Ward (Part 2 of 2, FINAL)
(This podcast discusses crime of a violent nature, listener discretion and parental guidance are recommended.)
This is the final installment of story of the 1988 murder of Julie A Ward, a 28 year old British woman which occurred inside Kenya's iconic Maasai Mara National Game Reserve. It's a little long..
Music: Zeeky Beats - Embrace (thank you always Zeeky!)
References:
Dr Grace A Musila Thesis: http://wiredspace.wits.ac.za/bitstream/handle/10539/6801/Main%20thesis%20%20Grace%20Musila.pdf?sequence=2
https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2004/may/04/kenya.world1
https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2004/apr/27/ukcrime.kenya
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/new-evidence-in-julie-ward-murder-1339996.html
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/expat/4192616/New-witness-Julie-Ward-was-gang-raped-then-killed.html
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/dad-murdered-photographers-new-hope-22528265
episode 5 - Julie A Ward (Part 1)
(This podcast discusses crime of a violent nature, listener discretion and parental guidance are recommended.)
In this one, we explore the 1988 murder of Julie A Ward, a 28 year old British woman which occurred inside Kenya's iconic Maasai Mara National Game Reserve.
Music: Zeeky Beats - Smoke in snow (thank you Zeeky!)
sources:
Grace A Musila PhD Thesis - KENYAN AND BRITISH SOCIAL IMAGINARIES ON JULIE WARD’S DEATH IN KENYA (2008) [Highly recommended!]
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-09-10-mn-2683-story.html
Wikipedia (:
episode 4 - The 1980s murders of Monica Njeri and Lucy Kabura
This podcast discusses crime of a violent nature, listener discretion and parental guidance are recommended.
sources for this episode:
https://owaahh.com/cold-case-the-brutal-murder-of-lucy-kabura/
https://owaahh.com/did-monica-njeris-killer-kill-three-more-women/#prettyPhoto
A Death Retold in Truth and Rumour: Kenya, Britain and the Julie Ward Murder, By Grace A. Musila via Google Books
https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/07/08/Asks-acquittal-of-US-sailor-in-murder-trial/2668426484800/
https://adst.org/2013/06/port-of-call-girls/
The Victoria Advocate Saturday, February 26, 1983 via https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=861&dat=19630226&id=kf5HAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eYAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5060,5659215
episode 3 - Captain Judy Angaine (Part 3/3)
(This podcast discusses crime of a violent nature, listener discretion and parental guidance are recommended.)
This is the final installment in the series of episodes about Captain Judy Angaine and her tragic murder in 1978.
In this episode, we discuss briefly the events of March 30, 1978 - the unfortunate day of the murder - as well as the subsequent trial.
We conclude the story of Capt. Judy Angaine, for now.
Please see episode 2's show notes for a complete list of sources for this series of episodes about Capt. Angaine.
Music in the episode:
Zeeky Beats - Past Night (https://youtu.be/X36dHAaSDOk)
Check out our Insta: https://www.instagram.com/murder_ciru_podcast/
episode 2 - Captain Judy Angaine (Part 2 - March 29, 1978)
(This podcast discusses crime of a violent nature, listener discretion and parental guidance are recommended.)
SHOW NOTES Ep. 02:
In this episode, we continue the story of Judy Angaine. The episode focuses on March 29, 1978 - a day before she would be killed.
If you’d like to skip the intro and get right into the story, it actually starts around the 6:00 minute mark.
Apologies:
1. I'm sorry about the glitch (house number 64), couldn't be helped, I tried.. :/
2. Also, in the episode I say Kapenguria is where the Kapenguria 6 were held - Kapenguria was actually the location of the trial and they were later held at Lokitaung' Prison in Turkana County.
3. If you use the app + your phone, this text might be formatted weird
Music:
Zeeky Beats - Quiet (https://youtu.be/-LUMqTFQSvY)
Bibliography:
https://nation.africa/kenya/life-and-style/dn2/who-killed-captain-judy-angaine-it-was-a-story-of-love-lust-and-passion--892108
https://owaahh.com/7-unsolved-murders-of-young-women-in-kenya/
https://owaahh.com/7-absurd-stories-kenyan-history/
https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/entertainment/nainotepad/2001254584/paul-ngei-renowned-veteran-fisi-who-set-fornication-standards-for-the-nation-during-his-heydays
https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/39323-mp-who-was-jackson-angaines-daughter-her-murder
https://twitter.com/historyke/status/1099369942489722881
https://twitter.com/historyke/status/1247649813304233985?lang=en
A Death Retold in Truth and Rumour: Kenya, Britain and the Julie Ward Murder, By Grace A. Musila (https://www.amazon.ca/Death-Retold-Truth-Rumour-Britain/dp/1847011276)
——
Our Ig has some interesting pictures - https://www.instagram.com/murder_ciru_podcast/
episode 1 - Captain Judy Angaine (Part 1 - Intro)
(This podcast discusses crime of a violent nature, listener discretion and parental guidance are recommended.)
This is the pilot episode. This is the introduction to the story of Judy Angaine. If the story is completely new to you, there are some spoilers in this episode, but only given to help introduce the story better and help follow the events. Judy Angaine was a young Kenyan woman who was murdered in 1978. After Judy Angaine was killed, there was a murder trial and most of the facts of this story are derived from that trial. The trial ended in an acquittal and her murder remains unsolved to date.
EDITS: To exclude unverifiable info
Please visit our Ig page to see pictures related to the story.
Music: Zeeky Beats - Samurai Love (https://youtu.be/gptadiWelPw)
Bibliography: Please check out episode 2's show notes