A Milimani Chief Magistrate’s Court allowed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to detain nine suspects for seven days pending investigations into the murder of a man at a Nairobi nightclub.
Senior Principal Magistrate Paul Mutahi on Monday ruled that investigators had presented sufficient grounds to warrant the continued detention of the suspects, who are being treated as persons of interest in the death of 28-year-old Brian Mwendo.
According to the miscellaneous application, Mwendo was allegedly assaulted by a nightclub bouncer identified as “Momanyi” at Somer Club in Nairobi’s Central Business District in the early hours of April 4.
He was rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital, where he died a day later.
Police told the court that the main suspect remains at large.
The nine suspects were arrested on April 10, 2026.
They are Maxwell Mwanzi, Esther Wanjiru, Sheril Okello, Jedida Kamau, Grace Mutheu, Rosmary Wambui, Marry Muhonja, Monica Wanjiku and Catherine Mutheu.
In its application, the DCI had sought to detain the suspects for 14 days, arguing that they were present during the incident and may have crucial information on the circumstances surrounding the assault and its aftermath.
Investigating officer Corporal Joseph Karanja, in a sworn affidavit, said the suspects are being investigated for accessory after the fact to murder and conspiracy to commit a felony.
He further told the court that the suspects posed a flight risk, arguing that their places of residence had not been fully established.
The officer also said that they could interfere with witnesses, collude, or tamper with evidence if released.
The prosecution said investigations are ongoing and include forensic analysis of the suspects’ mobile phones, retrieval and review of CCTV footage from the club, and the pending postmortem report.
Police are also continuing efforts to trace and arrest the main suspect.
In his ruling, Magistrate Mutahi said the court was satisfied that there were compelling reasons to allow custodial detention but declined to grant the full period sought by investigators.
He held that seven days would be sufficient to enable the police complete key aspects of the inquiry while safeguarding the rights of the suspects.
The suspects will remain in custody at Central Police Station.
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