The high-profile murder trial of slain socialite Starlet Wahu descended into courtroom confusion on Wednesday, July 30, 205, as crucial witnesses failed to show up — prompting a visibly irate Milimani High Court judge to issue a flurry of fresh summons.
Justice Alexander Muteti was forced to adjourn proceedings and summon six key witnesses to appear on October 1 and 2, 2025, after a pathologist, CCTV technician, and cybercrime expert all skipped court, derailing the day’s much-anticipated testimony.
According to the prosecution, the cybercrime officer messaged investigators at exactly 9:04 am, claiming she had rushed her ailing child to the hospital. Meanwhile, CCTV technician Elizabeth Njuguna reportedly cited illness and opted to stay away from the witness stand.
More troubling, the court heard, was that the appointed pathologist had gone completely silent — ignoring both calls and texts sent by prosecutors since the previous day.
With no witnesses present, State counsel requested the hearing be pushed to a later date.
But the morning’s courtroom drama didn’t end there.
Late socialite Wahu Starlet. PHOTO/Instagram/@wahu_starlet_
John Matara, the man accused of brutally murdering Starlet Wahu in a Nairobi Airbnb earlier this year, used the delay to launch his own complaint from the dock — alleging police intimidation and claiming his family had been extorted for the privilege of visiting him behind bars.
Still shackled as the session began, Matara cut a frustrated figure. He claimed he was being punished with handcuffs after confronting officers over alleged bribes extracted from his relatives.
“They’ve been taking money from my family just so they can see and speak to me,” Matara told the judge.
The explosive claims prompted Justice Muteti to instruct Matara’s defence team to formally raise the allegations in court. “Let your lawyers deal with that through the right process,” he directed.
As his lawyers pushed for bond, arguing Matara had been held for too long without release, defence counsel Samuel Ayora pleaded, “Your Honour, our client is still in custody. We are praying that you consider granting him bond.”
Justice Muteti told the defence to file a formal bond application.
In a bold move to get the trial back on track, the court issued summons to CCTV expert Njuguna, the missing pathologist, a cybercrime officer, a witness from South B Hospital, a corporal, and the investigating officer, all of whom are expected to appear in person and give testimony in October.
With tension running high and key players absent, Judge Muteti had no choice but to adjourn the case until October 1 and 2, 2025 — in the hope that the truth behind Wahu’s tragic death will finally come to light.
