Inside Airbnb Referral Chain That Led to Booking in Starlet Wahu Murder Case

Inside Airbnb Referral Chain That Led to Booking in Starlet Wahu Murder Case

Milimani Court on Tuesday heard how a chain of referrals among Airbnb operators led to the booking of Unit Y32 at Papino Apartments in South C, a unit linked to the death of socialite Starlet Wahu Mwangi.

Airbnb host Florence Ngina told Justice Alexander Muteti that the booking made on January 3, 2024 was not done through a direct platform, but through a chain of referrals between short-term rental operators.

The court heard that Ngina was first contacted by a fellow host identified as Charity, who relayed a client request from another operator, Jane, who was seeking a one-bedroom apartment with a balcony.

Accused John Matara during a hearing case at the Milimani law courts

Ngina testified that she and Jane had an arrangement where referred bookings attracted a commission of KSh 500, a practice she said was common among Airbnb operators sharing clients within the network.

“After confirming the apartment was available and in good condition, I approved the booking,” Ngina told the court.

The guest later made direct contact and arrived at Papino Apartments later that evening.

Ngina told the court that Papino Apartments has strict security procedures requiring all visitors to be registered at the main gate and cleared before entry.

The guest was recorded in the security register and directed to Unit Y32.

Ngina added that she later met the guest at the apartment, confirmed everything was in order, and completed the check-in process.

The court also heard that the building maintains 24-hour security surveillance, with all entries logged in official registers monitored by security personnel.

After the booking, Ngina confirmed she paid Jane the agreed KSh 500 referral fee, describing it as a routine arrangement among hosts who share clients.

The prosecution is relying on the testimony to show how the suspect, John Matara, allegedly accessed Unit Y32 through the chain of referrals among Airbnb operators.

Investigators argue that this communication chain played a key role in facilitating access to the apartment on the night of the incident.

The matter will be mentioned again on April 27, 2026, as the hearing moves towards conclusion, with final submissions expected before the case is closed and a ruling delivered in June 2026.