Police have moved to court seeking orders to detain three suspects for 30 days to allow detectives to complete investigations into the murder of mental health expert Dr Victoria Nthunya Mutiso.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations wants Elijah Kibelion Kimoi a police officer, Daniel Mwangi Njoroge and Kevin Ngugi Kinuthia held at separate police stations as investigations into the July 29 killing continue.
According to court documents filed at the Milimani Chief Magistrate’s Court, Dr Mutiso, the former Director of the African Institute of Mental and Brain Health, was fatally shot while inside a Toyota Passo registration number KDJ 609D in Upper Hill, Nairobi. The DCI wants Kimoi detained at Ruaraka Police Station, Njoroge at Pangani Police Station and Kinuthia at Gigiri Police Station for 30 days.
In an affidavit sworn by Corporal Romana Odour of the Homicide Investigations Bureau, detectives say they recovered two spent cartridges and two bullet fragments from the scene and submitted them for forensic examination.
Police further say a Mini Jericho pistol, serial number 47302127, was recovered and examined, with a preliminary ballistic opinion allegedly linking the recovered cartridge cases and bullet head to the firearm.
Investigators say preliminary inquiries have established that the firearm had been issued to a senior police officer who remains at large. Detectives have also recovered CCTV footage and call data records and detained three vehicles — KDJ 609D, KDH 600A and KDE 400W — as well as motorcycle registration number KMGZ 980D for forensic examination.
The three suspects were arrested on August 7 during what the DCI described as an intelligence-led operation before being placed in custody at Ruaraka, Pangani and Gigiri police stations. Police have also detailed what they believe were the respective roles played by the three suspects in the killing.
According to the DCI, preliminary investigations allegedly established that Kimoi fired the fatal shot. Njoroge is alleged to have driven a black Toyota Prado registration number KDH 600A which blocked the Toyota Passo in which Dr Mutiso was travelling. Kinuthia is alleged to have used motorcycle registration number KMGZ 980D to drop off and later evacuate the alleged shooter from the scene.
Police further say they are also investigating a land dispute involving Dr Mutiso as a possible motive for the killing.
According to the court papers, the deceased was involved in a dispute concerning L.R. No. 1504/13, which is the subject of a case before a Machakos court. Investigators say Dr Mutiso had previously reported an attempt on her life and complained that she was being trailed before the fatal shooting.
On July 7, approximately three weeks before her death, Dr Mutiso reportedly told police that she had been confronted near Junction Mall along Ngong Road by two armed people riding a motorcycle, one of whom allegedly pointed a gun at her. She managed to escape and reported the incident at Kilimani Police Station. Investigators now allege that Kimoi is suspected to have been one of the armed individuals who confronted her during that incident.
The DCI says detectives are still pursuing other suspected participants, some of whom remain at large. Among the outstanding investigations are the recovery of other firearms suspected to have been used, ballistic examinations, forensic analysis of CCTV footage and call data records, examination of the detained vehicles and motorcycle, recording of outstanding witness statements and tracing and arresting other suspects.
Investigators have further told the court that releasing the three suspects could lead to interference with witnesses and collusion with other persons who remain at large, some of whom are senior police officers.
Police also argue that the suspects are flight risks given the seriousness of the offence they may face and the fact that some alleged accomplices remain at large.
