Willstone Homes Boss Ejidio Kinyanjui Faces Rape Trial

What began as a night out at an upscale Nairobi entertainment spot has developed into a criminal case involving Willstone Homes Managing Director Ejidio Kinyanjui Gitau, who is facing a rape charge over allegations arising from an incident at Kettle House along Kiambu Road.

Kinyanjui denies the allegations, and the case is now before the court, which will determine the facts based on evidence presented during the trial.

At the centre of the case are two conflicting accounts of what happened inside a Lexus parked outside Kettle House on the night of August 22, 2026.

The night at Kettle House

According to police documents and court reports as well as NAIROBIAN sTORY , Kinyanjui picked up three women from a residence in Kitisuru before driving with them to Kettle House.

The group included a 19-year-old American visitor who was in Kenya visiting her grandmother, together with two adult daughters of the grandmother.

The grandmother was reportedly a client of Willstone Homes, and the group’s outing took place against the backdrop of that existing relationship.

While at the club, Kinyanjui reportedly settled a bill of about KSh80,000 before the events that form the basis of the criminal case unfolded in the parking area.

The complainant’s account

In her statement to investigators, the complainant alleges that Kinyanjui began making unwanted advances after her two aunts left their table to use the washroom.

She alleges that he subsequently led her to the parking area and into the back seat of his Lexus.

According to her account, she repeatedly refused his advances and attempted to resist. She also told investigators that she was frightened because she believed Kinyanjui was carrying a firearm.

The complainant further alleges that she had consumed enough alcohol to impair her ability to give meaningful consent.

She says her aunts later went looking for her and found Kinyanjui appearing unsettled.

The alleged incident was subsequently reported to the family, followed by a medical examination as part of the investigation.

Kinyanjui’s defence

Kinyanjui has denied the allegations and maintains that the sexual encounter was consensual.

According to court proceedings, he was arrested on September 1, approximately 10 days after the alleged incident. He was held for three days before being released as investigations continued.

The matter has since proceeded to court.

Investigation file

Investigators are reported to have compiled a file of about 95 pages containing material gathered during the probe.

The evidence reportedly includes witness statements, medical examination records, CCTV footage from Kettle House and its parking area, digital evidence and investigative notes from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.

CCTV footage is expected to form part of the evidence considered by the court.

While cameras in the parking area may help establish movements before and after the alleged incident, they may not show what happened inside the vehicle.

Key issues before the court

Several issues are expected to feature prominently during the trial.

One is whether the complainant had the capacity to consent at the time of the alleged incident. She maintains that she was too intoxicated to give meaningful consent, while the defence disputes that account.

Medical evidence may also be examined in relation to the timing of the alleged incident and any physical evidence presented by either side.

The CCTV footage could provide evidence about the movements of the parties between the club and the vehicle and their apparent condition at the time.

The testimony of the complainant’s two aunts could also be significant because they interacted with the parties shortly after the alleged incident.

The complainant’s claim that she believed Kinyanjui was carrying a firearm is another issue that may arise during the proceedings. Whether a firearm was present or recovered will be determined from the evidence before the court.

Kinyanjui’s business profile

The criminal case has also drawn attention to Kinyanjui’s position as Managing Director of Willstone Homes, a Nairobi-based property developer.

The company has previously faced public disputes involving some homebuyers and media coverage of its operations.

One notable dispute involved Nation Media Group following reports published by the Daily Nation concerning complaints from property buyers.

Willstone subsequently filed a KSh2 billion defamation suit and sought orders restricting further publication.

The courts declined to grant the broad restrictions sought.

The company has also been involved in other civil disputes relating to property transactions, contractual disagreements and construction complaints raised by some buyers.

Those disputes, however, remain separate from the criminal case currently facing Kinyanjui.

What happens next

The case will now proceed through the criminal justice system, with the prosecution required to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

The complainant alleges that she was sexually assaulted, while Kinyanjui maintains that the encounter was consensual.

The trial court will consider the witness testimony, medical evidence, CCTV footage and other material presented by the prosecution and defence before determining the case.

Until then, the allegations remain matters before the court and should not be treated as established facts.