Pastor Kanyari revisits the horrific demise of his sister Starlet Wahu

Pastor Victor Kanyari, the founder of Salvation Healing Ministry, has once again shared insights into the tragic death of his sister at the beginning of the year.

Starlet Wahu, a sister to Kanyari and a well-known socialite, was discovered dead in a short-stay apartment in Nairobi in January 2024. Police are investigating the incident, with John Matara being treated as the main suspect.

In an interview, Kanyari expressed his family’s determination to seek justice for their deceased relative.

“We are very optimistic that we will finally get justice despite the significant loss. We know we will not see our sister again, but we do not want another family to suffer in the same way as us,” he asserted.

The loss of Wahu has deeply affected their mother, according to Kanyari.

“Our mum was affected the most. This was her lastborn child. How we are helping her cope is by making sure that there are people around her all the time. We, as her children, visit her every day and spend time with her,” he added.

Recalling the tragic events, Kanyari mentioned that his sister attempted to reach out to him around 2 am on that fateful morning, desperately seeking help. Unfortunately, he did not answer the call, unaware of the impending danger she was facing.

The heartbreaking details of Wahu’s murder revealed that she had sent a significant sum of money, approximately Sh500,000, to Matara, her alleged killer.

John Matara, accused of Wahu’s murder, remains in custody until March 18, when his application for bail and bond terms will be heard.

Justice Kanyi Kimondo of the High Court in Nairobi set the date after Matara’s lawyer, Samuel Ayora, requested time to prepare, stating that the state had served its application to oppose bail and bond for his client late.

Matara, charged with killing Wahu at a short-stay rental apartment in South B, Nairobi, on January 4, denied the charge before Kimondo.

The Judge remanded him at the Nairobi Area Remand and Allocation Prison in the Industrial Area pending a bail application hearing.

Opposing the release application, Sergeant Alex Chokera of DCI Makadara cited concerns for witness safety, particularly the owner of the apartments where Matara and Wahu met.

“I am therefore apprehensive that the accused is likely to use the said telephone number to threaten, intimidate, and/or coerce the said prosecution witness not to give evidence in the matter,” stated Chokera in the affidavit.