7 held over death of university student in Nairobi apartment
From right: Dennis Kariuki Gitonga, Loise Osiro, Lucy Mora, Ali Kibwana Kamaku, Precious Kendi Mutembei, Austin Ochieng, and Wendy Kerubo before the Milimani Law Courts on November 24, 2025, in connection with the death of 23-year-old Daystar University student Lorna Kathambi.
Seven University students have been detained for seven days over the death of a 23-year-old girl who allegedly jumped from the 12th floor of a city building four days ago.
The seven are being investigated for the mysterious death of Lorna Kathambi Karani, a former student of Daystar University, Athi River Campus.
Lorna allegedly jumped to her death at Harmony Plaza in Nairobi.
Those arraigned are Dennis Kariuki Gitonga, Louis Osiro, Lucy Moraa, Ali Kibwana Kamaki, Precious Kendi Mutembei, Austin Ochieng and Wendy Kerubo.
However, crime detectives hold a different view due to alleged injuries on the body of the deceased, which are not consistent with a fall.
Ordering their incarceration, Milimani Law Courts Senior Principal Magistrate Dolphina Alego said police have established a legal threshold to warrant the detention of the suspects in custody to assist in demystifying the death of the university student during a night of partying.
The magistrate was taken through the events of the night of November 23, 2025, before Lorna fell to her death.
Ms Alego granted police their request plea for the seven to cool their heels at Parklands Police Station
During their stay in custody, Ms Alego said the seven will be questioned by officers from the serious crimes unit and those from the homicide unit at the directorate of criminal investigations bureau (DCI) to enable them piece together evidence with a view to charging the seven with murder.
Call data
The investigating officer Corporal Nyangige urged the court to detain the suspects for interrogation and recording of witness statements.
“I also intend to analyse their call data before a decision is taken whether to prefer a murder charge against the seven,” Mr Nyangige stated.
Defense lawyers attempted in vain to have the seven released on bond, but the police said their residences are not known and are therefore a flight risk.
The court heard the seven entered Harmony Plaza and were asked by a security guard where they were going. Dennis, who resides in the plaza, responded that they were his guests.
In the building, they shouted and played loud music. When the guard stopped them from playing music, they left and returned around 4 am.
Soon after their return to the plaza, the guard heard a loud bang and on checking, found Lorna lying motionless on the ground.
The suspects will be returned to court after seven days.
In a motherly advise, the magistrate urged young university students to shun drinking and embrace good behaviour.
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