A police officer Elijah Kibelion Kimoi ,the prado driver Daniel Njoroge and Bodaboda Kevin Kinuthia have been detained for 30 days in different police stations over the murder of Dr. Victoria Nthunya Mutiso, with investigators alleging that each played a specific role in the killing.

Magistrate Paul Mutai allowed the application by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) seeking to hold the three suspects, saying he is satisfied by the reasons given by the DCI for continued detention of the suspects.

“Persuant to provisions of article 49 of the Constitution, I will allow the application by the prosecution and detain the suspects for 30days “ said Magistrate Paul Mutai.

The magistrate ordered the first respondent to be detained at Ruaraka police station, second respondent at Pangani police station and the third respondent at Gigiri police station.

The magistrate considered that the first respondent is a serving police officer, Public interest and interference of witnesses in granting the custodial orders.

In a sworn affidavit, DCI Homicide Investigations Bureau officer Corporal Romana Odour told the court that preliminary investigations have already established the alleged roles of the suspects.

“Preliminary investigations have established that the 1st respondent-Kimoi is the one who fired the fatal shot,” Odour states.

Investigators allege that Daniel Njoroge, the second respondent, was driving a black Toyota Prado registration number KDH 600A, which allegedly blocked the Uber Toyota Passo registration KDJ 609D in which Dr. Mutiso was travelling.

The third suspect, Kevin Kinuthia, is alleged to have used motorcycle registration number KMGZ 980D to transport the first suspect to and from the scene.

The affidavit states that the three suspects were arrested on August 7, 2026, during what the DCI describes as an “intelligence-led operation” and placed in custody at Ruaraka, Pangani and Gigiri police stations respectively.

Dr. Mutiso, a former Director of the African Institute of Mental and Brain Health, was fatally shot on July 29, 2026, in Upper Hill, Kilimani Sub-County, Nairobi, while inside motor vehicle registration number KDJ 609D.

The incident was reported at Kibra Police Station under OB Number 35 of July 29, 2026, before the Homicide Investigations Bureau at DCI Headquarters took over the investigation.

Investigators told the court that they recovered two spent cartridges and two bullet fragments from the scene and submitted them for forensic examination.

A Mini Jericho pistol, serial number 47302127, was subsequently recovered and examined.

According to the DCI, “the preliminary ballistic opinion links the recovered cartridge cases and bullet head to that firearm.”

Investigators further say the firearm “was issued to a senior police officer who is at large.”

The DCI has also identified a land dispute involving Dr. Mutiso as a possible motive for the killing.

Investigators say the deceased was involved in a dispute over L.R. Number 1504/13, which is the subject of a case before the Machakos court.

The application states that the land dispute “might be one of the motives for killing the deceased.”

Investigators also say Dr. Mutiso had previously reported that someone had attempted to kill her and that she had been followed before the fatal shooting.

The DCI says that on July 7, 2026, Dr. Mutiso reported being confronted by two armed men riding a motorcycle near Junction Mall along Ngong Road.

According to the application, the men pointed a gun at her, but she managed to escape and later reported the incident at Kilimani Police Station under OB Number 63 of July 7, 2026.

Investigators allege that the first suspect was one of the armed men involved in that earlier incident.

The DCI has identified Dr. Mutiso’s husband as a crucial witness in the murder investigation.

However, investigators say he is yet to record a comprehensive statement due to the traumatic circumstances surrounding his wife’s death.

According to the affidavit, his evidence is central to the investigation, particularly regarding “previous threats made against the deceased and the identification of persons suspected to have trailed her before the murder.”

The DCI says releasing the suspects could expose the husband and other witnesses to interference or intimidation.

Investigators say they are still pursuing other suspected participants, some of whom remain at large.

The outstanding investigations include recovering other firearms suspected to have been used in the murder, forensic analysis of CCTV footage and call-data records, examination of the detained vehicles and motorcycle, recording of outstanding witness statements and establishing the respective roles of the suspects.

The DCI also wants to trace and arrest other people believed to have been involved in the killing.

The State says continued detention is necessary because some suspects who remain at large could collude with those already arrested.

“Continued detention is therefore necessary to preserve the integrity of the investigations,” Corporal Odour states.

The DCI further argues that releasing the suspects could enable them to “coordinate their accounts, destroy documentary or electronic evidence, frustrate investigative efforts and ultimately undermine the administration of justice.”

The State is therefore asking the court to grant investigators 30 days to complete the probe before making a decision on whether to formally charge the suspects.

Mention September 10th for further directions.