The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has been granted 30 days to detain three people, including a police constable and a university student, as detectives continue investigations into the murder of Dr Victoria Nthunya Mutiso.
The three are Police Constable Collins Bett Kiplangat, Pius Muiru Mbugua alias Headboy and Samuel Karanja Gathoni alias Wakili.
The detention order was issued by the Chief Magistrate’s Court at Milimani following an application by the DCI seeking more time to complete investigations into the killing.
They were arraigned before a Ugandan Chief Magistrate on August 31 before being deported to Kenya. Investigators said the suspects were escorted from Malaba Police Station to Nairobi on September 1 and subsequently held at Kilimani and Kileleshwa police stations pending their appearance before the Kenyan court.
According to the DCI, preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects allegedly played different roles in the planning and execution of Dr Mutiso’s killing.
Investigators allege that the first and second suspects were among those who planned the murder and had been in constant communication with senior police officer Kenneth Sang. The DCI claims that a firearm associated with Sang was allegedly used in the killing.
The third suspect, Gathoni, is alleged to have been driving a black Toyota Prado, registration number KDE 400W, which detectives say was used to trail Dr Mutiso before her vehicle was intercepted.
According to the prosecution, the Toyota Prado allegedly followed the Uber vehicle carrying Dr Mutiso before another Prado, registration number KDH 600A, blocked the vehicle. Dr Mutiso was subsequently fatally shot.
The DCI further alleges that the suspects had been monitoring Dr Mutiso’s movements both before and on the day she was killed.
The prosecution opposed their release, arguing that the suspects posed a flight risk after allegedly travelling to Uganda following the murder.
Investigators also told the court that their continued detention was necessary to prevent possible interference with witnesses, concealment or destruction of evidence and communication with other suspects who remain at large.
The DCI said the investigations are still active, with several leads yet to be pursued, including establishing possible links between the three suspects and other individuals believed to have participated in the killing.
The prosecution was consequently granted 30 days to complete the outstanding investigations.
At the conclusion of the period, the investigation file is expected to be forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for an independent decision on whether the suspects should be charged and whether their cases should be consolidated with those of other suspects.
The suspects have not been convicted of any offence, and the allegations against them remain subject to determination by the court.
The matter is scheduled for mention for further directions on October 1, 2026.
