A Nairobi court has granted investigators an additional 14 days to detain Samuel Karanja Gathoni, alias Wakili, a suspect in the murder of Dr Victoria Mutiso, as authorities pursue his placement under the Witness Protection Programme.

The court heard that Gathoni, listed as the third respondent in an application filed on October 1, 2026, provided crucial information to investigators probing the murder, prompting the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to consider using him as a prosecution witness.

“That the third respondent gave crucial information to the investigating team; hence, the ODPP and the investigating team intend to use him as a prosecution witness,” court documents state.

According to an affidavit sworn by Corporal Romana Odour of the DCI’s Homicide Investigations Bureau, the Witness Protection Agency (WPA) has already interviewed Gathoni regarding the information he provided to investigators.

The interview was conducted on September 24, 2026, and the court was informed that the agency is making arrangements to admit him into the Witness Protection Programme.

The prosecution sought an additional 14 days to hold Gathoni at Kilimani Police Station or another police station as the process of placing him under witness protection is finalised. The court granted the application.

Investigators told the court that Gathoni faces a high risk of harm, particularly as some suspects linked to the murder remain at large.

The prosecution further cited pending forensic examinations and concerns over possible witness interference, collusion and destruction of evidence as reasons for seeking his continued detention.

In the application, the prosecution argued that the circumstances constitute compelling reasons to keep Gathoni in custody while investigations and arrangements for his protection are completed.

Meanwhile, five individuals have since been formally charged with the murder of Dr Victoria Mutiso.