Written By Joyce Nzomo
A Nairobi court has granted detectives 14 days to detain Bilha Nyaboke, who was arrested in connection with the killing of Barnabas Voeller alias Junior at Kirubros Hotel in Nairobi.
Nyaboke, who police say works as a sex worker, was arrested on September 13, 2025, after a night that began at Calabash Club and ended in tragedy.
According to police reports, she met an unidentified male client at the club at around 4 a.m., where the man bought her drinks and agreed to pay her KSh200 for sexual services. The two then proceeded to Kirubros Hotel, where they booked room number 82, a room Nyaboke often used with her clients.
While in the room, Voeller, who was described as one of Nyaboke’s regular clients, persistently tried to reach her by phone.
Nyaboke reportedly sent him a message telling him she was with another client. CCTV footage later showed Voeller knocking on the door to the room before retreating to hide nearby.
Not long after, the unidentified male client left the room to use the washrooms, leaving the door open. Voeller entered the room in his absence.
When the client returned and found him inside, a violent confrontation erupted. CCTV footage captured the suspect rushing back into the room and attacking Voeller.
He was kicked repeatedly and dragged out of the room as Nyaboke attempted to intervene.
The hotel’s night-shift guard, identified as Ivan, was also seen on the footage trying to restrain the suspect and calm the situation.
He eventually escorted the injured man to the first-floor waiting room, where Voeller was later discovered dead by the day-shift guard.
Detectives from Kamukunji Police Station visited the scene and found the lifeless body of the deceased with visible head injuries. His body was moved to the Nairobi Funeral Home as investigations began.
In court, the investigating officer, PC Muriuki, applied to have Nyaboke detained for 21 days to allow police to complete investigations.
He explained that detectives needed time to record statements from witnesses, conduct an autopsy, hold an identification parade for the main suspect, analyze CCTV footage from the hotel, and carry out a mental assessment on Nyaboke.
He further argued that Nyaboke was a flight risk, that some witnesses were yet to record statements, and that other suspects believed to be involved in the murder were still at large.
Magistrate Paul Mutai, however, declined to grant the full 21 days requested and instead allowed investigators 14 days to hold the accused as investigations go on.
