A Nairobi gospel artist is fighting for her life at Kenyatta National Hospital after a group of men allegedly doused her in petrol and set her ablaze in the Mwiki area of Kasarani, an attack that police say may have been politically motivated.
Rachel Wandeto, speaking from her hospital bed in a video that has since gone viral on social media, gave a chilling account of the moments before the assault. Visibly in pain, she described how her attackers confronted her as she went about her day, accusing her of hoarding government money and political benefits for herself.
“I was from my place taking luggage to another woman. I met a group of men who had been following me. They were telling me that I have decided to be eating the government’s money alone,” Wandeto recounted.
According to the singer, the men deliberately herded her toward a secluded spot before launching the brutal attack.
“They encircled me and asked me to keep walking. At the end of the road, they dragged me, poured petrol on me and lit it. Then they ran away,” she said.
From Viral Loyalty to Violent Backlash
Wandeto had drawn widespread public attention earlier this year after she tattooed President William Ruto’s face on her chest, along with the word “Tutam” and his name on various parts of her body in bold public displays of political loyalty that made her a recognizable figure in pro-government circles.
Her relatives say that notoriety appears to have made her a target. According to family members, the attackers believed she had been receiving money and favors from the president in exchange for her vocal support. They allegedly demanded a share of those supposed benefits. When Wandeto told them she had nothing to give, they turned on her.
The assailants poured petrol on her body, set her hair on fire, and fled the scene, leaving her with severe burns across nearly 70 per cent of her body.
Emergency responders first took Wandeto to Uzima Uhai Hospital, where doctors quickly recognized the severity of her injuries and referred her to Kenyatta National Hospital for specialized burn treatment.
Police Confirm Ongoing Investigation
The National Police Service confirmed that investigators are actively working the case. Police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga described the attack as one of three serious incidents reported across Nairobi within a 24-hour window.
“The National Police Service strongly condemns three incidents reported within the past 24 hours in the Nairobi region,” Nyaga said in a statement.
In Wandeto’s case specifically, Nyaga said preliminary findings point to a possible political motive behind the attack. A specialized team from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations has since taken over as authorities work to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.
The case has sparked widespread concern online, with many Kenyans calling for swift justice for the injured artist as she continues to receive treatment.
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