Man Suspected of Killing Two Women and Using Their Phones to Request Money to Appear in Court

Joseph Weru, 28, is expected to appear in court in Nyeri on 19 March to face murder charges linked to the deaths of two women whose bodies were discovered weeks apart in Nyeri County.

Authorities say Weru is suspected of killing Mary Murutuni, a mother of three from Naromoru, and Beatrice Nyawira, a barber from Karatina. Investigators allege that after the killings he used the victims’ mobile phones to send messages to their relatives, posing as the women and requesting money in an effort to conceal the crimes.

Mary Murutuni disappeared on 17 January after leaving her home with Weru, whom she had introduced to neighbours as a cousin serving in the military. Two days later, her body was found in the Karogoto River with injuries consistent with blunt force trauma.

Detectives believe Weru killed her in a forested area near the Mukurweini–Mathira border before returning to her home to remove some of her belongings. Investigators say he later used her phone to contact relatives, claiming she needed money for debts and medical treatment. Family members, unaware that she had died, sent several payments in response.

After Murutuni’s death, Weru moved to Karatina, where he was living with Beatrice Nyawira. Police had already begun tracking him and had contacted Nyawira during their investigation.

She later went missing, and on 12 February her decomposing body was discovered in Ithekahuno Forest. Police say the injuries on her body were also consistent with blunt force trauma. As in the earlier case, investigators say Weru used Nyawira’s phone to send messages to her relatives, claiming she had travelled and requesting money.

Police say Weru later attempted to divert suspicion by claiming that detectives involved in the investigation had hired him to assassinate Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi. Authorities dismissed the allegation and arrested him.

Forensic analysis later showed that Weru had been using the victims’ phones and withdrawing funds through mobile money agents.

Court records show that Weru had previously been convicted in October 2025 for impersonating a police officer and was fined Sh40,000. Investigators are examining whether he could be connected to other unsolved cases due to his movements across several counties and his use of impersonation.

Weru was first arraigned in February and remains in custody while detectives continue their inquiries. His court appearance on 19 March is expected to mark the start of murder proceedings related to the two deaths.