What began as a routine land deal between two long-time friends has ended in tragedy — one dead, another in police custody, and the quiet Gaikuyu village in Nyeri County gripped by shock.
To many who knew them, 75-year-old land broker Joe Njiiri and his close friend, Allan Kibaki, were more like brothers than business partners — their bond built on years of mutual trust. But that friendship collapsed under the weight of suspicion, greed, and betrayal, culminating in Njiiri’s brutal killing on the night of September 2, 2025.
Police have since detained Kibaki alongside land surveyor John Kinyua and three other suspects — Brian Murage, Dennis Njoroge alias Weta, and Gilbert Ratemo — all accused of taking part in the murder.
On that fateful evening, Njiiri, fondly known as Rukwaro, was at Makuti Bar in Karatina Town, enjoying drinks with friends. His son, Mark Njiiri, told Nation that his father had spent most of the day searching for eggs for his hens and later stopped by the bar to relax.
Joe Njiiri alias Rukwaro who was killed on September 2, 2025 at his home at Gaikuyu village in Nyeri County.
Photo credit: Joseph Kanyi | Nation Media Group
“This is where he met another land broker for a short business chat. Afterwards, he joined two neighbours who had helped him during the day and offered to buy them drinks as a token of appreciation,” Mark said. “He even offered to drop them home later.”
M-Pesa records show Njiiri paid the bill at around 7.40 pm before leaving the bar. Unbeknownst to him, someone was watching — and he was heading to his death.
The following morning, his body was discovered in a banana plantation, about 20 metres from his home’s entrance.
“It appeared he was attacked just after parking his vehicle. Bloodstains led from the doorstep to the plantation, suggesting he was dragged there,” Mark recounted.
A post-mortem at Nyeri County Referral Hospital revealed that Njiiri died from multiple blows to the head inflicted with a blunt object.
Central Region DCI boss Dr Abraham Mugambi said investigators believe the suspects planned to smuggle the deceased’s vehicle to Uganda. Police initially arrested 15 suspects, later releasing 10 after determining they were not directly involved.
“Investigations are ongoing, and more arrests will follow,” Dr Mugambi said.
On October 16, 2025, the High Court in Nyeri ordered mental assessments for the five suspects before trial. Justice Maureen Odero directed that they be remanded at King’ong’o GK Prison and that legal counsel be provided for the three who lacked representation. They are due in court on October 23, 2025.
Family members say the deadly fallout began more than two decades ago with a disputed five-acre plot in Kamulu, Nairobi.
In 2004, Njiiri bought the land intending to process the title deed and later sell it. Facing financial strain, he sought Kibaki’s help. Kibaki agreed to assist with paperwork and liaise with lands officials. However, according to the family, he allegedly exploited Njiiri’s trust and processed the title under his own name.
“Whenever my dad asked, Kibaki claimed the document was still being processed,” Mark said.
Mark Njiiri, the firstborn son of the late Nyeri businessman Joe Njiiri alias Rukwaro who was killed at his Gaikuyu villageon the night of September 2, 2025, at his home in Gaikuyu village, Nyeri County, speaks during an interview. Five suspects have been arrested in connection with his murder.
Photo credit: Joseph Kanyi | Nation Media Group
Years later, when Njiiri decided to sell the land — with Kibaki ironically acting as broker — he discovered the title had been transferred to his friend’s name five years earlier. The revelation led to a physical altercation in Karatina Town and a bitter estrangement.
Njiiri reported the matter to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations early this year. But after months without progress, he grew frustrated.
“The last time we spoke, around August, he told me he was raising fare to attend a court session in Nairobi over the land dispute,” Mark recalled.
The family later learned that Njiiri, with help from surveyor Kinyua, had secretly reversed the title registration back to his name shortly before his death.
At his Gaikuyu home, the father of three lived with his wife, Lucy Thogori. The family says it was common for her to leave the door unlocked when her husband stayed out late, to avoid waking her.
Neighbours say the alarm was first raised the following morning by a casual worker who arrived to find the front door open and the compound unusually quiet. She alerted relatives and neighbours, who discovered Lucy locked inside a guest bedroom, unconscious with a head injury.
She was rushed to hospital, where she spent ten days recovering, unable to recall the events of that night.
Initially, detectives suspected a robbery. Njiiri’s Toyota Land Cruiser Prado and several household electronics were missing. Police believe the attackers first struck his wife, locking her in the bedroom, before ambushing Njiiri when he returned. He was hit repeatedly on the head and dragged to the banana plantation, where he died.
But what appeared to be a night robbery soon unravelled into a chilling story of friendship gone sour and a murder rooted in a long-running land feud.
Two weeks after the killing, as mourners gathered to bury Njiiri, detectives received a tip about household goods being sold cheaply at an apartment in Karatina Town. The items matched those stolen from his home.
A police raid led to the arrest of Gilbert Ratemo, the tenant. His phone data linked investigators to another suspect, Brian Murage, believed to have helped him transport the loot.
Detectives also tracked the deceased’s missing phone, which was still active. They traced it to a buyer in Nairobi who said he purchased the Samsung device for Sh8,000. The buyer led police to Dennis Njoroge, alias Weta, who had sold him the phone.
A search of Weta’s house uncovered Njiiri’s car keys and jacket. The deceased’s Toyota Prado was later found parked at a public lot near Buruburu Police Station.
