On July 26, 2020, Kenyans woke up to shocking headlines. Reports claimed that Kanyiri Wathika, son of the late Nairobi Mayor and Makadara MP Dick Wathika, had died by suicide.
Police stated that the young man was found hanging in his closet with a tie around his neck. His mother, Asenath Wacera Maina, allegedly made the grim discovery inside their Windsor home.
The internet lit up with theories. Some headlines screamed, “Son of former Nairobi Mayor commits suicide.” Others went further, suggesting inheritance battles, betrayal, and a hidden love affair.
But beneath the reports, deeper questions remain. Was it really suicide? Or a double murder cover-up linked to wealth, betrayal, and family rivalry?
Death of Kanyiri Wathika, The Rise, and Fall of a Political Family
The death of Kanyiri came five years after the sudden passing of his father, Hon. Dick Wathika, on December 19, 2015, from a reported cardiac arrest.
Before his death, Wathika was a powerful man. A businessman and politician, he mingled with tycoons and wielded influence in Nairobi. His death shocked many. But for his children, it was the beginning of a painful unraveling.
Friends of Kanyiri revealed that he was troubled. He believed that his mother, Asenath, was having an affair with his late father’s close friend and business partner, Paul Ndung’u Wanderi.
Worse, Kanyiri suspected that his father’s death was not natural. He confided in friends that Dick’s illness may have been exploited by the two to gain access to his vast estate.
This suspicion created bitter conflict between mother and son. Their relationship broke down. Even Kanyiri’s sister, who sided with him, was forced to leave the country after clashing with their mother.
The family’s collapse mirrored the chaos in their business empire.
The Shadow of Paul Ndung’u
At the center of this storm stood Paul Ndung’u, a controversial businessman with a flair for headlines.
Ndung’u loved to call himself a billionaire. But court records and scandals painted a different picture.
In 2016, a company linked to him, Life Care Medics, was named in the Sh5 billion Ministry of Health scandal. Investigators alleged theft of over Sh200 million. In 2020, another firm tied to him, Protteta Holdings, surfaced in the KEMSA Covid-19 scandal, pocketing Sh73 million.
By 2023, his empire was collapsing. Equity Bank moved to auction his properties over a Sh664.8 million loan. His farms, Gigiri property, and other assets were listed for sale.
Broke and hiding from auctioneers, Ndung’u reportedly turned to Asenath Wacera for financial rescue. Sources claim she used wealth left by her late husband to bankroll Ndung’u’s lifestyle and endless legal battles.
The two even traveled to England together in 2023, fueling whispers of a partnership that went far beyond business.
Was Kanyiri Wathika Murdered?
With this backdrop, Kanyiri’s death raises disturbing questions. How could a young man over five feet tall hang himself inside a three-metre closet using only a tie tied to a clothing rod? Was it physically possible? Or was it staged to look like suicide?
Why did Kanyiri openly speak of betrayal, yet no serious investigations followed after his death? Why did authorities quickly close the case without addressing the suspicions?
Private citizens are now gathering evidence to push the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to reopen the case. They argue that what happened in Windsor was not suicide, but cold-blooded murder tied to inheritance wars.
The motive appears clear. By eliminating Kanyiri, the last major obstacle to the estate of Dick Wathika was removed. His sister, already abroad and estranged from her mother, was sidelined. That left Asenath and Ndung’u with control.
A Family Torn Apart
The tragedy of Kanyiri Wathika is not just about one death. It is about a family destroyed by greed, betrayal, and suspicion.
From a respected mayor’s household, the Wathikas have become a symbol of scandal. Friends whisper of betrayal within the walls of Windsor, of wealth fueling bitter feuds, and of a mother accused of choosing a lover over her children.
To this day, questions remain unanswered. Was the closet scene a suicide or a carefully planned murder? Was the once-mighty Dick Wathika family betrayed from within? And most importantly, will justice ever be done for Kanyiri? Until investigators act, the Windsor closet mystery will continue to haunt Nairobi.
