Detectives investigating the murder of High Court advocate Edward Muthee Kariuki will be relying on his phone records to reconstruct his final movements as they intensify investigations into the killing.
The family of the 33-year-old lawyer has appealed to security agencies to expedite investigations and ensure those responsible for his brutal murder are arrested and brought to justice.
Edward Muthee Kariuki, 33, was found dead near Strawberry Crescent court in Sabaki, Athi River-Machakos County, on the morning of July 5, 2026.
Police believe he was attacked on his way home during the night and left in a pool of blood after his assailants made away with his valuables, including his mobile phone.
Slain High Court advocate Edward Muthee Kariuki. He was murdered at Athi River Sabaki Estate, Machakos County, on July 5 2026.
Photo credit: Pool
The bachelor advocate lived with his parents in the estate at the time of his death. He operated a law firm with offices along Kiambu Road.
Athi River Sub-County DCI boss Michael Boiyo said detectives had applied to retrieve the advocate's phone records to trace his last movements in an effort to solve the mystery surrounding his death.
“The scene where the body was found was processed by Scene of Crime detectives. We will be relying on his phone data to trace his last movements. We have made an application in court,” Boiyo said. “His phone signal was last detected in Nairobi CBD that day when his body was found before it was switched off.”
According to the post-mortem examination conducted on July 6, at Shalom Community Hospital by Dr Simon Omuok, the advocate suffered a single deep cut to the back of his head. This cut penetrated the brain and left him with no chance of survival. He had no other injuries.
On Wednesday evening, when the Nation visited the family, a sombre mood engulfed the court as relatives, friends and neighbours thronged the homestead to console them.
Mr Peter Kariuki Muthee, father of the slain advocate Edward Muthee, holds a portrait of his son in their Sabaki Estate home on July 8 2026.
Photo credit: Stanley Ngotho | Nation
Peter Muthee Kariuki, 62, eulogised his second son, describing him as a promising lawyer who had previously confided in him that he was afraid of handling criminal cases due to the risks involved. He was unsure whether his son was working on a sensitive case.
"My son was an ambitious young advocate who had high aspirations in his career. He liked walking home after work from Mombasa Road and he was often home by 9pm," said Mr Muthee. "I want security agencies to expedite the investigations and bring to book the perpetrators of this cold-blooded murder."
It remains unclear whether the advocate had walked nearly two kilometres from Mombasa Road along a dusty road before he was attacked. The circumstances surrounding his final moments remain unclear.
Mr Japheth Nyabane, chairman of the Sabaki Residents Association, decried the rising insecurity in the area, saying the advocate may have fallen victim to a criminal gang that has recently been terrorising residents.
"Recently, burglary, mugging and homicide cases have been on the rise not only in our estate but also in the surrounding areas. Let the security agencies beef up security. Losing another person at the hands of criminals is one too many and unacceptable. As neighbours, we are equally pained," said Mr Nyabane.
John Muluka, the chairman of Strawberry Crescent Court, echoed these sentiments, condemning the killing as barbaric and unfortunate.
"The future of the nation is in the hands of young people like Edward. Losing such a young person is like losing the county's future. Edward was a promising young man," said Mr Muluka.
Family calls for speedy investigations into killing of advocate Edward Muthee
A security guard at Blessing Court, who spoke to the Nation in confidence, said he spotted the body early in the morning but initially mistook it for a drunk person lying by the roadside until it was identified by a relative.
"I mistook the body for a person who was drunk and lying along the dusty road. It shook me when it dawned on me that it was the body of the ever-jovial advocate who always exchanged pleasantries with guards at the gate," he said.
The Law Society of Kenya condemned the killing, describing it as a dark moment for the legal profession and the nation while condoling with the family.
"We call upon the authorities to conduct thorough, swift and impartial investigations, and urge anyone with information to come forward in the pursuit of justice," read part of a statement issued by Law Society of Kenya President Charles Kanjama on July 6.
Meanwhile, the Law Society of Kenya has declared Friday a National Day for solidarity, citing the killing of Advocates Edward Muthee and Kenya Forest Service (KFS) lawyer Esther Wairimu, in a week, as an attack on the profession, demanding accountability for attacks on advocates.
The family is planning for his burial, which is scheduled for Saturday, July 11, at the family's farm in Kimana, Loitoktok Sub-County.
His death comes at a time of growing public concern over machete-wielding gangs targeting residents in the Mlolongo area during World Cup match nights.
Among the victims is 38-year-old George Sabario Motanya, who was left with permanent injuries after he was attacked by a gang armed with crude weapons.
He suffered deep panga cuts to the head and lost seven incisors—three upper and four lower teeth. He was left lying in a pool of blood.
"They attacked me mercilessly and left me for dead. They never stole anything from me. I was rushed to a local clinic for first aid before I was taken to Kitengela Sub-County Hospital, where I was admitted for a few days," said Sabario.
"Since then I have not watched any World Cup matches. I am reaching out to my friends to help me raise Sh71,000 for teeth replacement, lest I lose my job. I have lost sound control, which might affect my students."
