A Nairobi court has ordered four suspects linked to the killing of 86-year-old Dorita Macharia to remain in police custody for 10 days to allow detectives to continue investigations.
The suspects, identified as Thande Malaika Gitau, Emmanuel Munyeki, Jimmy Macharia and Regina Wangui Macharia, will be held at Gigiri Police Station. The case will be mentioned on November 12.
The order was issued by Magistrate Barbara Akinyi following a prosecution application seeking 15 days to complete outstanding investigative procedures. Prosecutor Faith Musoma informed the court that detectives were yet to retrieve and examine CCTV footage from the Loresho estate, record statements from witnesses who may have been present during the incident and conduct fingerprint analysis on the suspects.
Investigators were also seeking to obtain the respondents’ mobile phone call data records as part of efforts to establish their possible involvement in the killing. The prosecution further told the court that the investigating officer needed additional time to complete the inquiry and submit the investigation file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
In opposing the suspects’ release, the prosecution argued that freeing them could interfere with investigations, particularly through possible witness intimidation or interference. The court was also informed that the first respondent was a granddaughter of the deceased.
However, the defence challenged the request for continued detention, arguing that the prosecution had not provided sufficient justification for holding the suspects beyond the initial period.
Lawyers representing some of the respondents maintained that their clients had already recorded statements and handed over their mobile phones to investigators. They argued that the remaining investigative procedures could proceed without keeping the suspects in custody, adding that their clients’ constitutional rights and freedom should be protected.
In her ruling, Magistrate Akinyi noted that the investigation was still at a preliminary and sensitive stage. She consequently granted the prosecution 10 days, five days fewer than the period requested.
Macharia was discovered dead in a pool of blood inside her Loresho residence on the night of October 30, 2026, with deep cut wounds on her body. The prosecution informed the court that a postmortem examination was yet to be conducted to establish the exact cause of death.
The four suspects will remain at Gigiri Police Station as detectives pursue outstanding investigations ahead of the November 12 court mention.
