Nairobi News

Mr Johnson Kimani alias Wakim, a businessman and politician who was a resident of Githurai 45, lost his life on the evening of June 12, 2023, at Gazani, a popular bar and guesthouse he owns.

Police and detectives attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) are investigating whether Mr Kimani jumped to his death or was pushed from the sixth floor of the building, leading to his death on the spot.

Mr Kimani, who contested the Githurai Ward MCA seat in the August 8, 2022, general elections on an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket, came third in the hotly contested race.

Mr Naftaly Wagura Mathenge of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) was declared the winner.

Also read: How politician Gladys Chania lied to the police over her husband’s death

When Nairobi News arrived at the scene where Mr Kimani fell to his death, hundreds of locals were watching as police and well-wishers helped carry the deceased’s body into a waiting police Landcruiser.

Locals who spoke to this reporter now say they heard screams from inside the shop, which was also his home.

“On Sunday (June 11), we heard screams coming from inside the joint but we never went to find out what was happening,” said Ms Lucy Waithera, a local.

Investigations by Nairobi News reveal that Mr Kimani arrived at Gazani at midnight and went straight to where he likes to sit in the pub before retiring to bed at the guest house.

He also did not attend church on Sunday at St Timothy’s Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) in Githurai, 45, which church members said was not his norm.

Also read: Bahati’s rival, politician Billian Ojiwa recalls his struggles as a waiter

A worker who spoke to this reporter said the businessman, who also runs Center Club in Githurai 44, had been struggling financially for the past few months.

“Hata imekuwanga ngumu kutulipa, juzi kuna mmoja wetu aliwacha kazi juu malipo yamekuwa shida (Paying us has been a difficult task for him, just the other day one of us resigned due to financial difficulties),” said one of the workers who requested anonymity.

Mr Kimani had three known wives, but last night a fourth turned up at Githurai 45 police station, but the others did not acknowledge her.

A family member said he was separated from his first wife, who moved out of his marital home and rented a separate house.

She rented a house in the same building at Githurai 45 where the third wife also lived. Nairobi News is yet to learn the whereabouts of his second wife and mother of two of his children.

Mr Kimani died on the same day he promised to pay rent for his third wife and failed to do so before his death.

There was drama between the wives over ownership of the body at the Kenyatta University (KU) mortuary, where the businessman’s body was taken before it could be registered at the facility.

Also read: RIP: Details of funeral for son of UDA politician found dead in Kabete river