It has emerged that an intelligence-led operation, with support from Interpol, led authorities to the Kamapala hideout of three men suspected of involvement in the brazen murder of Dr Victoria Mutiso in Nairobi.
The trio suspected of being part of the gang that killed the clinical psychiatrist 35 days ago was presented before a Milimani court on Wednesday after being deported from Uganda, where they had reportedly gone into hiding.
Slain clinical psychologist and mental health researcher Dr Victoria Nthunya Mutiso.
Photo credit: Pool
Police Constable Collins Kiplangat Bett, Pius Muiru Mbugua alias Headboy, and Samuel Karanja Gathoni alias Wakili will be held in custody for 30 days after the court allowed police time to conclude investigations into their roles in the gruesome murder.
From right: Police Constable Collins Kiplangat Bett, Pius Muiru Mbugua and Samuel Karanja Gathoni in court. They are suspects in the fatal shooting that led to the death of Dr Victoria Mutiso.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada | Nation Media Group
The court was told that Gathoni was identified as the driver of a motor vehicle, KDE 400W, a black Toyota Prado which was trailing Dr Mutiso before the taxi she had boarded was blocked by another Toyota Prado, KDH 600A, before she was fatally shot.
He was identified via CCTV footage, lead investigator Corporal Romana Oduor told the court.
He also told the court that the suspects had trailed Dr Mutiso for some time before pouncing on the fateful day.
Gathoni, who alleged he was a law student at a local university, was traced to his Lang'ata residence where they first observed his movements. Detectives noted that he had been shuffling between Nairobi and Kampala after the death of Dr Mutiso. It was suspected that his accomplices were hiding out in the neighbouring country.
As he crossed the border, detectives kept a close eye on him and his movements.
Upon return to Nairobi, police say they nabbed him in the city. He then led authorities to Uganda where the other two were arrested.
After their capture, Uganda’s Foreign Affairs ministry processed an extradition request from its Nairobi counterpart.
The court heard that the three were initially presented before the Chief Magistrate of Buganda Road Court at City Hall on August 31, 2026, before being handed over to Interpol in Kampala, who then handed them over to Kenyan police at the Malaba border on September 1, 2026.
According to police, the intelligence-led operation had led them to their hideout in Kyanja Heights Flats, Nakawa suburb in Kampala, Uganda.
In her ruling, the magistrate said the prosecution had established that the suspects were a flight risk, as they had allegedly fled Kenya after the murder of Dr Mutiso.
"This court finds that there are compelling reasons to warrant the detention of the three for 30 days in police custody," the court ruled.
She ordered that the three be remanded at Kasarani, Kileleshwa and Kilimani police stations, respectively.
The three were brought to court seven days after Rose Mbithe Mulwa, alias Rose Mbithe Ndetei, her children Chris and Angela Mulwa (both advocates), and police officer Elijah Kibellion Kimoi were taken before the High Court over the murder of Dr Mutiso. The four, however, did not plead to the charge and were remanded awaiting mental assessment until September 23, 2026.
From left: Lawyer Angela Mulwa, her mother Rose Mbithe Mulwa and brother Chris Mulwa in court on August 25, 2026.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada | Nation Media Group
Meanwhile, Ms Mulwa was on Wednesday charged before a Mavoko court with stealing a motor vehicle valued at Sh15 million. She was charged together with Nelson Masiga Makaralu, with the two accused of conspiring to steal a Sh15 million Range Rover Sport belonging to the Africa Institute of Mental and Brain Health (AFRIMEB).
The two were presented before the Mavoko court on Wednesday and charged with conspiracy to commit a felony, contrary to Section 393 of the Penal Code. The prosecution alleges that the two conspired to steal the motor vehicle, an offence they allegedly committed together with others not before the court.
The two also face a second count of stealing the same motor vehicle, contrary to Section 278A of the Penal Code. The charge sheet states that they committed the offence on February 12, 2026, at Kathangaita area in Mlolongo, Machakos County. The court heard that the vehicle was parked at the home of Professor David Musyimi Ndetei, a director of the institute.
In an alternative charge, the two are accused of handling stolen property. The prosecution alleges that on August 1, 2026, they were found in possession of the same Range Rover at Rose Residential Homes, Karen Kerarapon 14 West, in Nairobi County, while knowing or having reason to believe that it was stolen.
Mulwa and Masiga also face a separate charge of malicious damage to property. According to the prosecution, the two, jointly with others not before the court, wilfully and unlawfully damaged a dwelling house belonging to Prof Ndetei. The home, in Kathangaita, Machakos County, estimated to be worth approximately Sh56 million, was destroyed on February 12, 2026.
They denied the charges, and the court directed that a pre-bail report be prepared and presented ahead of the ruling on their bail application. The case will be mentioned on September 9, 2026, for further directions.
