The man accused of killing his wife has been actively involved in church projects and made personal donations, his childhood friends say.
Wambui, a mother of two, disappeared on January 26. Her body was found a day later at Courtesy Beach situated at Mugutha area in Juja.
On Tuesday, they appeared before Kiambu senior principal magistrate Stella Atambo but did not take the plea. Detectives were allowed to hold them for 14 days to complete investigations.
A day later, police recovered Wambui’s missing vehicle near a dam in Juja. The Mercedes Benz is being held at Ngewa police post in Kwamaiko village, Githunguri subcounty.
Karue’s childhood friends at Kabui village in Kairuthi sublocation knew him as Mwangi Karue. They were surprised after his photo appeared in the media in relation to the murder.
“He participates in development projects and is the key person behind the construction of Kamatongu AIPCA Church. He’s attended several harambees,” a resident said.
His former schoolmates at Kairuthi Primary in Iria-ini ward, Othaya, Nyeri, say he completed his primary school education in the 1990s, was never a bright child.
They say it is a mystery how his fortunes changed and he managed to accumulate immense wealth. Though he was born in Othaya, his family later moved to Mweiga in Kieni in the 1990s, about 30 kilometres away. His father was an education officer and his mother a bank teller.
The second born in a family of two boys and one girl is a licensed gun holder and at least three of his extended family members work in the armed forces. A resident said two of his uncles work with the DCI and one is a soldier. His younger brother is a police officer.
“We don’t know how he became suddenly rich. At 41, he is so rich and far-much ahead of his agemates,” one childhood friend said.
“He drives the latest top-of-the range vehicles. During the burial of Iria-ini MCA John Theuri’s father, he attended with a numberless brand new Toyota Land Cruiser V8.”
Wambui’s body had a deep wound in the head. Police said it was inflicted with a blunt object. Her hands had bruises.