Two women charged with murder of Mlolongo hairdresser Jennifer Mwende

The two key suspects, Everlyn Wanza Katumbu and Faith Nthemba Kyalo, were arraigned at the Machakos High Court where they pleaded not guilty before Justice Margaret Muigai.

Wanza and Nthemba were charged with jointly killing Jennifer Mwende Musila on August 28, 2023, in Mlolongo Phase 2 in Athi River Sub-county.

The two took plea after undergoing a mental assessment at the Machakos Level 5 Hospital where the prosecution confirmed that the test ascertained they were fit to stand trial.

The two suspects will remain in custody pending a ruling on their bail application.

The case has been set for mention on November 14, 2023.

The decomposing body of 29-year-old Mwende was discovered dumped in a pit latrine in Mlolongo area on September 12 after she had gone missing for about two weeks.

Mwende is said to have received a phone call early on the morning of Friday, August 25th, from a person posing as a client in need of her hairdressing services at their home. She left, never to return.

A post-mortem conducted at Montezuma Monalisa Mortuary in Machakos town last month indicated that Mwende died from asphyxiation, caused by manual neck compression.