The Tender That Turned Fatal: The Tragic Betrayal of Carolyn Wanjiku Maina.”

The SAD STORY of Carolyn Wanjiku Maina
The business lady betrayed, robbed & murdered by people she trusted — over a Ksh 20M tender.

On Friday, 12th Feb 2021, Carolyn Wanjiku Maina walked out of Co-operative Bank, Stima Plaza – Ngara.

She had just withdrawn Ksh 350,000.

Just another Nairobi afternoon.
People rushing.
Cars hooting.
Life moving.

Little did she know…
…it was the last time she would walk freely in this city.

As a businesswoman, Carolyn was about to make that famous move —
“use money to make money.”

She was headed to meet a man she trusted.
A “friend.”
A fixer.
A so-called tenderpreneur.

Edwin Odiwuor.

He had promised to help her boost her SACCO shares at Cooperative Bank so she could qualify for a bigger loan and finally breathe from the financial pressure she was under.

Edwin had proven himself.
At least on the surface.

What Carolyn didn’t know…
…was that Edwin was a small-time crook, hiding behind big words, fake connections and tender talk.

A man whose only plan was simple:

• steal her money
• make her disappear

And sadly…
Carolyn trusted him.

Carolyn Wanjiku was 38 years old, from Embu.

From her Facebook posts, you could tell —
She lived for her two handsome sons.

A full-time mum.
A single mum.
Her boys were her whole world.

Before business, Carolyn had stability.

She worked for 6 years as a loans officer at Co-operative Bank, Embu.

Good job.
Respectable career.

Then she took a risk.

She quit employment and jumped into real estate, starting her own company — Dunmore Realtors.

Selling land.
Selling property.
Using contacts she had built while working at the bank.

And she was good. Very good.

Her marketing skills, financial knowledge and confidence made clients trust her easily.

Add her sharp wit and people skills, and Carolyn built strong networks —
Friends who celebrated her wins…
Friends who mentioned her name even when she wasn’t in the room…

Or so she believed.

Then came the big break.

A government tender worth Ksh 20M.

Life-changing money.

But like all tenders, it needed capital to service.

Carolyn brought in two business partners to raise funds.

One of them — Steve Oduor — took the biggest risk.

Convinced by Carolyn (remember, she was a former loans officer), Steve handed over his car logbook to a shylock.

The plan was clear:

• Finish the job
• Get paid
• Clear the loan
• Share profits

Work started.
Everything went smoothly.
The tender was executed perfectly.

Then Kenya happened.

Payment delayed.

Loan period expired.

Shylock started breathing fire.
Threatening to repossess Steve’s car.

Steve panicked.
Tempers flared.

Carolyn stepped in, making personal payments to calm things down as they waited for the county to pay.

Finally — February 2021 — the money landed.

Millions.

Relief washed over her.

But sometimes…
…money doesn’t just solve problems.

Sometimes it creates demons.

With the millions in her account, Carolyn made a fatal decision.

She changed the profit-sharing agreement.

In her mind, she deserved more.
After all, it was her idea.

Her partners disagreed.

They felt betrayed.
Used.
Cheated.

Discussions turned into arguments.
Arguments turned into threats.

Carolyn stood firm —
“It’s my way or nothing.”

She even went ahead and bought herself a new car, despite the tension.

Threatening messages started coming in.
Friendships turned toxic.
Fear crept in.

Carolyn knew things were bad.

She needed a way out.

She needed more money.

Money to calm angry partners.
Money to fix the mess.

That’s when she turned to Edwin Otieno.

The same Edwin who promised to help her multiply her SACCO shares.

The same Edwin who smiled…
…while sharpening his knife.

Instead of help, Edwin delivered her to death.

She was forced into a black Toyota Crown (KCN 300D).

Inside — Edwin and another man, Samuel.

She was handcuffed.
Trapped.
Sandwiched between two criminals.

Their mission now was simple:

• get the rest of her money.

When she resisted, the torture began.

Her wrists and hips were broken as they drove past Museum Hill towards Naivasha Road.

But Carolyn refused to give in.

In pain.
Bleeding.
Strong.

That strength scared them.

Panicking, they made a final decision.

They beat her head repeatedly with a blunt object until she died.

Her body was dumped in a thicket in Kajiado.

Her phones were sold.

One phone — an OPPO — was later traced to a high school student in Kisii.

That trail led police to the student’s uncle…
…who had the second phone.

That’s how the puzzle came together.

Today, Edwin Otieno and the uncle are in court, answering to murder charges.

Carolyn Wanjiku Maina left behind two sons.
A future cut short.
And a painful reminder that sometimes…

• the people who clap for you the loudest
• are the ones waiting for you to fall

The END.