Woman charged with theft after losing Sh1million meant for in-law’s funeral contributions in gambling

A woman who gambled lost Sh1million she had received for her friend who was fundraising for burial expenses for her father and mother-in-law is in custody at Buruburu Police Station where police are investigating a theft case.

Esther Nyambura Waititu is alleged to have stolen the money from Lydia Wairimu, contributed by her 257 WhatsApp friends and family members between June 21 and 29, 2025 to aid her in burying her parents.

The burial was scheduled for Monday June 30, 2025 but has since been postponed.

Waititu had been mandated to receive M-pesa contributions from friends and relatives who were fundraising online to assist Wairimu in burying her parents who died one day apart between June 18 and 19 this year.

In an affidavit filed at the Makadara law courts, Corporal Julius Magacha of Buruburu Police Station said investigations revealed that Waititu had converted the money for her own use, spending it on betting.

He was seeking orders to detain the suspect for seven days pending investigations into a case of stealing contrary to section 268 (1) as read with section 275 of the Penal Code.

The suspect went underground after receiving the cash and Wairimu’s efforts to trace her were futile prompting her to report the matter at Buruburu Police Station vide Occurrence Book (OB) number 25/29/06/2025.

“The attempt to reach out to the respondent (Waititu) after she had collected the money were futile and she went into hiding until only to be traced to Membley area (Ruiru) where police officers arrested her after she failed to cooperate,” Magacha stated in his affidavit filed at the court.

“Officers arrested her on June 29, in her residential house upon forcing entry since she locked herself inside the house.”

The police officer said the suspect is likely to go into hiding if released on cash bail.

The stolen money is yet to be recovered.

Magacha said investigations are not complete as most of the witnesses who had sent money to the suspect were held up in the burial planning.

Waititu’s mobile phone and SIM Card recovered as exhibits are to be taken to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters for forensic analysis during gathering of evidence against the suspect.

“Critical information and report from the cybercrime unit is yet to be processed and obtained from (Waititu’s) mobile phone and SIM card that was used to form the WhatsApp group and which the respondent used to receive the money,” stated the cop urging the court to remand her in custody.

“It is also a security risk for her if set free since mourners are agitated as she stole the money meant for burial arrangements.”

The complainant is held up in planning her parents’ burial in Nyahururu, hence unable to supply the police with the required material information to inform the decision for criminal prosecution of the suspect, according to Magacha.

The custodial orders sought by the police officer were granted by Principal Magistrate Wandia Nyamu.