Also known as: Rachel Muthoni Wandeto · Gospel musician Rachel Wandeto · Gospel singer Rachel Wandeto
Gospel musician killed in May 2026 in a suspected petrol attack allegedly linked to her political support for President Ruto.
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
The Standard
Gospel musician Rachel Wandeto has died while receiving treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi, days after she was allegedly attacked and set ablaze by unknown assailants in Mwiki, Nairobi. …
Gospel singer Rachel Wandeto dies after brutal attack in MwikiUDA women have condemned attacks and intimidation based on political affiliation, saying Kenyans have the right to support leaders and parties of their choice. They cited the case of Rachel Wandeto and called on all Kenyans to respect divergent political views, urging opposition leaders to focus on issues and policies rather than attacking individuals.
27 July 2026 · The Standard →
UDA women have condemned attacks and intimidation based on political affiliation, saying Kenyans have the right to support leaders and parties of their choice. They cited the case of Rachel Wandeto and called on all Kenyans to respect divergent political views, urging opposition leaders to focus on issues and policies rather than attacking individuals.
27 July 2026 · The Standard →
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen accused former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of ethnic bigotry and inciting violence, citing Gachagua's use of the term "wasaliti" (traitors) to label leaders who do not align with his politics and linking such rhetoric to violence against communities.
6 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has accused former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of ethnic bigotry and inciting violence by labelling opposition leaders as "wasaliti" (traitors), citing the term as a dog whistle historically used to profile and direct attacks against communities and individuals.
6 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen accused former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of reinforcing ethnic division and dangerous political rhetoric, claiming Gachagua brands Mt Kenya leaders who do not support him as "traitors"—language Murkomen said has historically been used to fuel violence.
6 July 2026 · Capital News →
Gospel musician Rachel Muthoni Wandeto was buried on Friday at her family home in Kabumbu Village, Kirinyaga Central Constituency, following a Kerugoya Law Court ruling on June 10 that permitted her mother to proceed with the burial after a family dispute over arrangements.
13 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Kerugoya Law Court has cleared the burial of Racheal Muthoni Wandeto and ordered her body released to her mother, Sarah Njeri. The court ruled that Wandeto and her partner, Peter Njaramba, were not legally married, rejecting his bid to have her buried at their home in Murang'a County.
10 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said President William Ruto does not need election interference to win re-election and that the Kenya Kwanza administration supports a free and fair 2027 poll. Kindiki dismissed claims about election rigging as undermining democracy and urged Kenyans to judge leaders on development rather than ethnic politics.
25 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Kenya's National Police Service reports 125 femicide-related cases, with Central region accounting for 31 cases. Of these, 98 cases (78.4 per cent) are before courts while 27 cases (21.6 per cent) remain under active investigation.
23 May 2026 · The Standard →
An editorial warns that gospel singer Rachel Wandeto's alleged murder — reportedly over her political support for President Ruto — signals that political intolerance in Kenya is becoming violent extremism, and demands swift prosecution of those responsible.
23 May 2026 · The Standard →
An autopsy has confirmed that gospel musician Rachel Wandeto died from severe burn injuries sustained in an attack in Mwiki, Kasarani Sub-County; she had burns covering about 85 per cent of her body. A suspect, taxi driver Josiah Njeru Njiri, has been granted 10 days of continued detention by homicide detectives investigating the case.
22 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Police have been granted 10 days to detain taxi driver Josiah Njeru Njiri in connection with the murder of gospel musician Rachel Wandeto. Njiri, arrested in Ruai, was the last person in communication with Wandeto, who was attacked and set on fire in Mwiki, Kasarani Sub-County; detectives say he holds crucial information about the killing.
21 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →
President William Ruto warned that those responsible for the fatal attack on gospel singer Rachel Wandeto will be held accountable, condemning tribal profiling and violence against citizens for their political beliefs. Wandeto died at Kenyatta National Hospital after sustaining severe burns in an attack in Nairobi's Kasarani area, which authorities are investigating as possibly politically motivated.
21 May 2026 · Capital News →
President William Ruto accused critics of fuelling ethnic profiling and hate, linking recent tensions to tribal mobilisation and hate speech, and vowed that those dividing Kenyans along tribal lines would answer for it. He referenced the death of Rachel Wandeto, killed after a suspected petrol attack in Mwiki, saying her killing resulted from "hate" and "tribalism."
21 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Human rights bodies have given the government 40 days to address rising femicide and gender-based violence cases, threatening street protests if demands are not met. Their demands include declaring GBV a national crisis, establishing a GBV fund, ensuring police accountability, and launching a national campaign.
20 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Civil society and legal groups have given the government 40 days to act on rising cases of gender-based violence and femicide, warning that failure will trigger nationwide protests and legal action. They cited recent high-profile cases and said the country is facing a crisis requiring immediate national intervention.
20 May 2026 · The Standard →
Gospel singer Rachel Muthoni Wandeto died from severe burn injuries sustained during an attack by three masked men in Mwiki, Nairobi on May 16. Her family is demanding justice as homicide detectives take over the investigation to establish the motive and apprehend those responsible.
19 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Homicide detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations have taken over investigations into the death of gospel artist Rachel Wandeto, who died from severe burn injuries after being attacked with a flammable substance and set ablaze in Mwiki, Kasarani, Nairobi on May 16. She suffered approximately 75 per cent burn injuries and died at Kenyatta National Hospital on May 18.
19 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Gospel artist Rachel Wandeto died Monday at Kenyatta National Hospital following a petrol attack in Nairobi's Mwiki area, sustaining burns covering nearly 70 percent of her body. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen pledged swift justice, describing the incident as a senseless act of violence allegedly linked to political intolerance.
18 May 2026 · Capital News →
Kenyan gospel singer Rachel Wandeto has died at Kenyatta National Hospital from severe burn injuries sustained in a May 16 petrol attack in Nairobi's Mwiki area. Authorities say the assault may have been linked to her political views, and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has condemned the incident and promised an investigation into the attack.
18 May 2026 · Capital News →
Rachel Wandeto died at Kenyatta National Hospital from petrol burn injuries sustained in an attack in Mwiki, Nairobi, believed to be linked to political intolerance. Her death has triggered social media debate questioning the consistency of public responses to violence and femicide.
18 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Gospel musician Rachel Wandeto has died at Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi from severe burn injuries sustained during a May 15, 2026 attack in Mwiki, where she was allegedly set ablaze by unknown assailants while running errands.
18 May 2026 · The Standard →