It's widely perceived that Mr Livingstone Mwangi, 29, who was found murdered on December 23, 2025, would be alive had he avoided wining and dining with a criminal cartel in Murang'a County.
For the man who earned his livelihood as a broker in Maranjau village, his last moments depict a man who was neck-deep with a local cartel.
He was found dead on a path leading to his home. Police in Murang'a South are trying to piece together the circumstances that led to his death.
An autopsy conducted at General Kago mortuary indicates that "he was hit on the head using a blunt object that cracked his skull, leading to loss of blood". The report added that the body had defensive injuries on the forearms. The pathologist concluded that Mwangi's cause of death was brute force trauma coupled with heavy blood loss.
On December 17, Mwangi had spoken to the Nation about a powerful cartel that thrived in Maranjau, Kiambamba, Igikiro, Kamahuha, Maragua Ridge and Kambiti shipping centres.
"This cartel is big and has government officers, especially those in security, as well as local businessmen. It involves trading in bhang, stolen livestock and crops as well as illicit liquor," he said.
The late Livingstone Mwangi. He was killed by unknown assailants on the morning of Tuesday, December 23, 2025.
Photo credit: Pool
According to his friend Joseph Karume, Mwangi was seen on December 19 in the company of some suspected cartel kingpins.
"He helped some of the suspects get buyers for their mangoes. He also had some unexplained supplies in the nearby Maranjau prison. He was seen in a meeting at Kiambamba market with some prison warders," he said.
A sign indicating the Maranjau area, Murang’a County.
Photo credit: Joseph Kanyi | Nation
Mwangi would later on December 22 find himself on a drinking spree at Pisjoh Bar at Maranjau shopping centre. According to his wife, Ms Naomi Mugure, 21, Mwangi left home at around 8am.
"He told me he was off to broker mangoes. The next interaction with him was on phone at around 5pm when he called to ask me whether I was still home," she says.
After confirming that she was still at home, he promised to call within an hour.
"He called me at 6pm and asked me to meet him at Pisjoh Bar. He gave me Sh200 for supper," she said.
However, Mugure says she did not like the company her husband was with at the bar.
"I told him to leave...He refused. He said he was not new to bars. I told him to take care then I left," she said.
But when midnight came and Mwangi had not returned home, she tried to reach out.
"I sent him a please call me message and he immediately called me. He said he was still drinking with his friends," she said.
The late Livingstone Mwangi. He was killed by unknown assailants on the morning of Tuesday, December 23, 2025.
Photo credit: Pool
"Babe, worry not...We're drinking. It's Christmas. I will be home in a few."
"I woke up at 6am. I decided to go to the bar where he was. It's only about 200 metres from our home," she said.
Once outside the house, however, their family donkey looked very agitated, thumping its feet as it pointing its nose to the straight but hilly path towards the shopping centre.
"That was odd...and that is when I saw a jumper that looked like the one that my husband wore. I found myself running. As I got closer to the jumper, it became obvious that it was my husband lying there," Mugure recounted.
"I kneeled down and touched him...he was cold. He was laying face up with his feet straight and hands on his chest. He had one eye open. That is when I started screaming".
Scene of crime detectives were called. According to a preliminary report, the body had a crack on top of the head, bruises on the forearms and it lay "as though arranged by a third party".
Police visited the bar in which Mwangi was last seen and the report indicates that "there were several spots with traces of blood. The bar had been cleaned and the waitress was nowhere to be seen".
The preliminary report adds that inquiries show about eight customers believed to have been last seen with Mwangi. It also reveals that he was involved in an alteration with one of the patrons, but peace later prevailed and they went on with their merry making.
However, Mwangi’s sister Esther Waigumo dismissed the call, saying: "The government does not need help to know bars that operate in a criminal manner or cartels that operate boldly and openly, some being supervised by security officers working in government facilities."
