The High Court allowed an application seeking a 30-day detention of a police officer and two civilians in connection with the murder of clinical psychologist Dr Victoria Mutiso.
Constable Elijah Kibelion Kimoi, driver Daniel Njoroge and bodaboda Kevin Kinuthia were linked to the murder of Dr. Mutiso on July 29 in Upper Hill area.
The trio was arraigned on Monday as the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) told the court that they played a specific role in the killing.
Magistrate Paul Mutai noted that the safety of the three suspects can’t be guaranteed if released at this stage.
“I note that one of the suspects is a serving police officer and if the respondents are released on bond there’s a likelihood that they will interfere with investigations,” he ruled.
In an affidavit, DCI Homicide Investigations Bureau officer Corporal Romana Odour said 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 stated.
Investigators said 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 aboard.
The third suspect, Kinuthia, is alleged to have used motorcycle registration number KMGZ 980D to transport Kimoi to and from the scene.
The affidavit stated that the three suspects were arrested on August 7, 2026, during what the DCI describes as an “intelligence-led operation” and were 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 a motor vehicle registration number KDJ 609D.
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 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 said the firearm was issued to a senior police officer who is at large. Inspector Kenneth Kipkemboi Sang of Nderi Police Station and Collins Bett Kiplangat of Thogoto Police Station, remained the subject of a police manhunt on Monday.
The DCI has also identified a land dispute involving Dr. Mutiso as a possible motive for the killing.
Investigators said 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 stated that the land dispute might be one of the motives for killing the deceased.
Investigators also said Dr. Mutiso had previously reported that someone had attempted to kill her and that she had been followed before the fatal shooting.
The DCI said that on July 7, 2026, Dr. Mutiso reported being confronted by two armed men riding a motorcycle near Junction Mall along Ngong Road in Nairobi.
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.
Investigators alleged that Kimoi 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 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 key to probing previous threats against Dr Mutiso and identifying the suspects involved.
The DCI said releasing the suspects could expose the husband and other witnesses to interference or intimidation.
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 State said 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 noted.
The DCI said critical investigations are yet to be completed while more accomplices remain at large.
Fresh details emerging from investigations into the murder of Dr Mutiso indicate that the three suspects were allegedly promised Sh1.5 million to execute the killing.
They had been paid Sh100,000 as down payment.
Investigators believe each of the three was to receive Sh500,000 upon completion of the assignment, with part of the money allegedly paid before Dr Mutiso was killed.
The balance had not been paid and was to be raised from the sale of a Range Rover which has since been seized by police.
The car was among four cars that had been stolen from Dr Mutiso’s Mlolongo home in February 2026 during a raid staged using forged documents, police say.
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