Newly Married Murang’a Couple Found Dead Hours After Wedding

A newly married couple in Murang’a County were found dead at the man’s home just hours after they moved in together, with police investigating the deaths as a suspected murder-suicide.

Patrick Mwangi, 28, and Jackline Wambui, 25, moved into Mwangi’s home in Nyerere village at about 4pm on 9 August. They later left together to celebrate their union and returned at about 7pm. Within minutes, both had died.

Murang’a County Police Commander Cleti Kimaiyo said the circumstances initially pointed to a murder-suicide, although investigators were considering other possibilities as they established what happened. The couple had been together for about three years, but their relationship had been marked by repeated disputes.

Mwangi’s mother, Bilha Wangare, said the two had sought help from their families over disagreements involving money, mobile phones, family support and trust. Mwangi worked as a boda boda rider, while Wambui took occasional casual jobs. They had not established a permanent home together, although they sometimes spent nights at Mwangi’s house.

Wangare said tensions had increased in 2026. Wambui had been asking Mwangi to give her the logbook for his motorcycle and the title deed for a small plot he had bought in Makuyu, Maragua Constituency. Mwangi had also accused her of taking Sh100,000 from his house.

The couple disagreed over financial support for their families. Wambui reportedly believed Mwangi was giving too much money to his parents and wanted him to give greater support to her family. They also argued about the amount of time they spent together and whether Mwangi was taking her out.

Concerned about the state of the relationship, Wangare held a family meeting on 4 August. She encouraged the couple to begin living together in the hope that sharing a home would bring greater responsibility and stability.

Both sides also set conditions. Mwangi wanted Wambui to have his child, while she continued to seek financial security through his property. They eventually agreed that Mwangi would help set up a business for Wambui at Irembu shopping centre, while she agreed to start a family.

Wangare said Mwangi remained distrustful and later gave her the motorcycle logbook and land title for safekeeping. On 6 August, Wambui told Wangare that she had decided to marry Mwangi and would move into his home on 9 August.

On the afternoon of 9 August, Wambui arrived at about 4pm, where Mwangi was waiting for her. The couple later left on his motorcycle.

They returned about three hours later. Wangare said Wambui appeared drowsy and needed help getting into the house, while Mwangi appeared to have been drinking.

Before returning to his house, Mwangi briefly joined his parents and siblings. Wangare said he spoke to each of them and appeared to say goodbye. He also complained that Wambui had shared a photograph of another man on social media and sent it to him, allegedly telling him that she would leave if he did not treat her well.

Wangare said she later became concerned and went outside with a torch. When the couple did not respond to her calls, she went to Mwangi’s house and found the door open.

She found her son outside the house. A search of the building revealed that Wambui had also died.

Neighbours gathered as the family raised the alarm. Police officers later documented the two scenes before the bodies were taken to the Maragua Level Four Hospital mortuary.

Wambui’s aunt, Tabitha Njoki, said the family had been looking forward to her moving in with Mwangi and getting married. Wambui was also the mother of a five-year-old daughter.

Investigators are now working to establish what happened between the couple’s return home and their deaths. The suspected murder-suicide remains an initial police assessment and has not been confirmed as the final explanation. The couple had formally begun their married life on 9 August after years of relationship difficulties, but both died before the day was over.