On Wednesday, October 16, 2024, the Embu High Court brought Benson David Mwendwa, a suspect in the brutal murder of 44-year-old widow Jane Kilonzi, before it.
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Mbeere South made the presentation.
According to reports, Mwendwa planned and executed the horrific murder of Kilonzi on September 25, 2024.
“Her lifeless body was found in a pool of water in Kiambere division of Mbeere South Sub-County, Embu County, bearing severe bruises and with blood streaming from her mouth and nose,” the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) stated in a post on X, revealing insight on the brutal end that Kilonzi faced.
According to the investigators, Kilonzi lived on a farm where her late husband worked as a supervisor until he died in the latter half of 2023.
Immediately after his death, Kilonzi engaged Mwendwa to work as the farm supervisor. During his employment, he lived in her son’s home.
Despite leaving his work after three months, the suspect continued to reside in the house. During this time, he built a connection with Kilonzi, which caused stress among the family.
During the time that Kilonzi was staying with Mwendwa, a romantic connection developed between the two of them, much to the shock of her son. The son’s dissatisfaction led to Mwendwa’s eviction from the home, forcing him to seek housing in the Isakho region.
The culprit reportedly returned to Kilonzi’s farm on the fatal night, had dinner with her, and insisted on spending the night despite her protestations. This was according to the authorities.
Kilonzi’s suggestion that he stay at her son’s house led to a violent argument between the two of them.
Mwendwa went back to the homestead on September 25, 2024, and she and Kilonzi ate dinner together when she got there. Once dinner was over, he insisted on staying the night at Kilonzi’s home, but she declined his request and suggested that he sleep at her son’s place instead, as he had done in the past.
After that, a furious dispute erupted, culminating in Mwendwa striking Kilonzi on the head, causing her to lose consciousness.
“He then dragged her to the nearby Ciakarigu River, where he continued his brutal assault before leaving her for dead and watching over her all night,” the DCI said in their thorough description of the terrible occurrence. “He then left her, expecting her to die, and watched over her all night.”
Ultimately, authorities apprehended Mwendwa and arraigned him in court, where he entered a plea of not guilty to the allegations against him. This finally occurred after many weeks of investigations and an extensive search.
Currently, Majimbo Prison is holding him in preparation for the pre-trial hearings scheduled for November 19, 2024.
