The Meru banker whose wife was killed by assassins alleged to have been hired by his jilted lover has revealed that he terminated the love affair with the woman 15 months ago.
Josphat Mwarania said he parted ways with Keziah Wanjiru Mbugua, who is accused of contracting the hitmen to kill his wife Hildah Wanjiru.
He said he met Keziah in 2012 when they both worked at National Bank in Limuru. Keziah has since switched jobs to St Paul’s University, where she works in the marketing department.
Mwarania yesterday said he broke up with Keziah because of “violence in the relationship” and attempts to salvage their relationship had hit a snag.
Prior to the two parting ways, Mwarania had suggested that they stay apart for at least a week to reflect on their relationship. Keziah left their house in Machakos on a Friday and returned on Sunday with her parents.
They wanted to collect her personal belongings and accused the man of chasing away their daughter. The man told them that he had not chased away Keziah and they had agreed to separate for a week to reflect on their relationship, but the family insisted on taking their daughter.
In March 2014, he met Hildah, whom he describes as “adorable, beautiful and the best company”. He insisted that he had completely cut links with Keziah before he started dating Hildah.
Mwarania said he paid dowry to Hildah’s family, ahead of their planned church wedding on August 29. He said he was shocked to learn that Keziah hired the hitmen who killed his wife.
Mwarania said he did not expect such a thing because they had parted ways and had no strings attached. “She was a violent girl but I did not think she could do such a thing,” he told the Star on the phone yesterday.
He said last July, Keziah called him to try and mend things but he informed her that he had moved on. To cut off the link completely, he decided to block her number.
Mwarania said the March 13 events at their Katoloni home are still fresh in his mind. Yesterday, he recalled that it was around 8pm and he was home with his wife, sister–in-law and their son.
They were expecting some guests for supper that evening. He said someone called three times and Hildah hesitated, but picked the call the third time.
She then went to the door to check on the expected guest but she ran back into the house as she had spotted the gunmen.
The killers barged into the house.
Mwarania tried to fight two gunmen and managed to lock them inside the house. One of the thugs had followed Hildah into the bathroom where she was seeking cover and shot her three times.
She had bullet wounds on her left palm and wrist, a third bullet cut close to her heart and a fourth on her right eye. Her sister in-law also was shot on the hip, while the boy escaped unhurt after hiding under a bed.
Mwarania said the sister in-law was out of danger. Mwarania said he shouted for help and one of the gunmen shouted:Â Shoot that one too”.
One of the killers followed him into a neighbour’s house and fired through the metal door, hitting his left hand.
The criminals then escaped.
Neighbours came to help and took Hildah to Machakos Level Five Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.
Detectives from the Special Crime Prevention Unit on Monday presented four suspects in court over the murder, among them Keziah.
Other suspects are Joseph Mutua, Charles Njaramba, and Wycliffe Amida.
The suspects were not allowed to plead to charges as police were granted a week to complete their investigations.
Asked whether he plans to get married soon, Mwarania  said: “Time will tell.”
He said he will focus on taking care of his son.
– the-star.co.ke
