Killer of high-flying Citibank exec remains at large 1 year on as campaigners label case 'complete lack of justice'
Marianne Kilonzi built a successful career in banking before she was found dead at her home in London.
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The Source Exclusive: Killer of high-flying Citibank exec remains at large 1 year on as campaigners label case ‘complete lack of justice’
The Source can reveal that no arrests have been made and there is no update on the case a year since Marianne was killed.
STORY BY MELISSA SIGODO
JANUARY 7, 2026
Nearly a year since a high-flying banking executive was found dead, her killer has yet to be caught.
Marianne Kilonzi, who worked as the vice president of trade and working capital sales at Citibank was discovered fatally beaten in her flat on Argyll Road in Woolwich, London, on January 17, 2025.
The successful 43-year-old whose parents are both deceased had only been in the UK for two years from Kenya before she was killed, according to reports.
Speaking at the time of her death, Detective Chief Inspector Suzanne Soren from Specialist Crime South said the killer was believed to be known to Marianne but the force later said they would not give further details about the suspect.
Now, the Metropolitan police has told The Source that there has been no update on the case, no arrests have been made and a possibility that the suspect had fled was “one line of enquiry” still being “explored as part of the investigation.
Furthermore, the suspect remains unnamed, a year later.
But following the revelation by this publication, campaigners working to end violence against women have labelled the case a “complete lack of justice” for Marianne and her loved ones.
Speaking to The Source, Executive Director at the End Violence Against Women Coalition Andrea Simon said:
“There’s a complete lack of justice for this woman and her family and loved ones the longer this continues.
“There is a risk that you have somebody at large who has killed somebody and is a risk to others.”
Since Marianne’s death, only one appeal for witnesses was made by police shortly after her body was found which the campaigner called “concerning”, adding that Black women were ‘not given the same attention’ as other ethnic groups.
She said: “I think it’s very concerning that this amount of time has passed and there doesn’t seem to have been any attempt to publicly lodge an appeal for further information.
“I think that it's indicative of how under the radar these cases have gone.
“When you look at the amount of resourcing that is placed, or prioritisation and value that is placed on the lives of some women, there are very obvious questions about why Black women are not given the same level of attention and resourcing.”
As well as Andrea, the Executive Director of domestic abuse charity Southall Black Sisters, Selma Taha also questioned why an appeal for witnesses hadn’t been launched by police.
Speaking to The Source she said: “Why haven’t [police] put out an appeal to get more information? This work they’re doing in the background, what is it?”
“When it comes to Black and minoritised women, we don’t hear anything about them.
“There’s never anything actively being done on their cases. I just don’t have faith in the system.
“It’s not just the police. It’s the media as well. There’s no interest.”
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police told The Source: “This remains an active investigation, and our priority is to secure justice for Marianne and her family in light of her tragic death.
“We continue to pursue all available lines of enquiry, and are in regular contact with Marianne’s loved ones to keep them informed of all developments.
“We make decisions about appeals where it supports the investigation. Our priority must always be securing justice, and the public would expect we would only issue appeals where necessary and appropriate.
“The integrity of our enquiries must take priority. The race and gender of the victim has no bearing on our decision-making.”
Very sad. I hope that the police will give this case the attention a murder enquiry deserves now that the lack of progress or flow of information has been highlighted.
I really don’t understand the police statement at the end of this report. Is there ever a time when an appeal for witnesses or information does not support the line of the investigation? A woman was beaten to death and her killer is still at large. To find the killer, you must appeal for information. Period.