After three dramatic re-arrests and two brief spells of freedom, lawyer Angella Mulwa is set to stand trial for the murder of Dr Victoria Nthunya Mutiso, who was shot dead in Nairobi in July.
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Ingonga disclosed before Milimani Chief Magistrate Joan Mati that Ms Mulwa will be charged alongside her mother, Rose Mbithe Mulwa, alias Rose Mbithe Ndetei, and her brother, Chris Mulwa, who is also an advocate.
Rose Mulwa and her son Chris Mulwa at the Milimani Law Courts on August 3, 2026. They are persons of interest in the fatal shooting of Dr Victoria Mutiso.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada | Nation Media Group
Ms Mulwa was re-arrested immediately after two Senior Assistant Directors of Public Prosecutions, Jalson Makori and Gikui Gichuhi, informed the court that a murder charge had been registered at the High Court.
The development came shortly after Ms Mati dismissed Ms Mulwa's bid to stop the police from seeking her detention for 14 days to investigate the murder.
The latest arrest came barely five days after Ms Mulwa was re-arrested at the Mavoko Law Courts on August 19, following her release on a Sh1 million cash bail alongside Nelson Masiga Makaralu.
The two had been detained for 14 days while being investigated over alleged forgery of documents relating to a Sh1.5 billion parcel of land in Mlolongo, theft of high-end motor vehicles belonging to Dr Mutiso, and malicious damage to property. They were subsequently released by Mavoko resident magistrate Lilian Kwamboka.
The following day, Ms Mulwa, 53, was presented before Ms Mati, where DCI homicide detectives sought orders to detain her for another 14 days over Dr Mutiso's murder.
Ms Mati released her from custody pending a determination on whether she had jurisdiction to hear the application, given that a similar application had been dealt with by a court of equal status in Mavoko.
Her lawyers, Danstan Omari and Martina Swiga, opposed the application, arguing that the prosecution was abusing the court process by seeking a different forum.
"This court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the police 14-day detention request. Allowing this court to do so would mean it is sitting as an appellate court, yet it is of equal jurisdiction," Ms Swiga told the court.
Mr Omari accused the State of "forum shopping for a suitable magistrate" to hear the application, arguing that the matter was res judicata — already determined by a competent court.
Lawyer Danstan Omari, who is representing Angela Mulwa, at the Milimani Law Courts on August 24, 2026.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada | Nation Media Group
However, in her ruling on Monday, Ms Mati dismissed Ms Mulwa's objection, finding that she had failed to meet the legal threshold for stopping police from detaining her for interrogation.
The magistrate noted that the Mavoko court had dealt with allegations relating to forgery of documents concerning the Mlolongo property, malicious damage to property and theft of motor vehicles. The application before her, she said, related to investigations into Dr Mutiso's murder.
Ms Mati consequently allowed the DPP to proceed with the application seeking Ms Mulwa's detention for 14 days.
Mr Makori, however, asked the magistrate to refer the matter to Principal Magistrate Geoffrey Onsaringo, who had ordered Ms Mulwa's mother and brother to be detained for 21 days. Their case was scheduled for mention on Tuesday, August 25, for directions.
Mr Omari opposed the request, arguing that the case before Mr Onsaringo was different from Ms Mulwa's matter.
"In the Onsaringo matter, Angella is actually a lawyer for her mother and brother. The case is now being convoluted by the State," Mr Omari said.
Ms Mati adjourned the proceedings for 20 minutes to prepare her ruling. When the court resumed, however, she did not deliver the ruling after Mr Makori took a different course.
"Before you deliver the ruling, I wish to bring to the court's attention that the DPP has registered a murder charge at the High Court in which Angella, her mother Rose Mbithe Mulwa alias Rose Mbithe Ndetei and Chris Mulwa will be called upon to answer for the murder of Dr Victoria Nthunya Mutiso," Mr Makori said.
He argued that, following the filing of the murder charge at the High Court, the magistrate's court could no longer deal with the matter.
"This court ceases to handle this matter. You are now released to the DCI officers from the homicide division," Ms Mati ruled.
Ms Mulwa was subsequently handed over to Corporal Romana Oduor and other homicide detectives to record a statement as she awaited production before the High Court for plea-taking.
Detectives escorted her from the courtroom to a waiting Subaru, which drove away from the court parking bay. Mr Omari and Ms Swiga followed the vehicle to DCI headquarters, where they witnessed their client record a statement under inquiry ahead of her formal charging.
According to the charge sheet filed at the High Court Criminal Division, Ms Mulwa, her mother and brother are accused of murdering Dr Mutiso on July 29 at about 9.30am along Mawenzi Road in the Kilimani area of Nairobi, jointly with others who have not been charged.
The prosecution alleges that Police Constable Elijah Kibellion Kimoi, who was attached to Karinde Police Post under Kikuyu Police Station, was involved in the killing alongside Daniel Mwangi Njoroge and Kevin Ngugi Kinuthia.
Njoroge is alleged to have been driving the Toyota Prado that blocked Dr Mutiso's vehicle, while Kinuthia allegedly rode a motorcycle that brought Constable Kimoi to the scene. The officer is accused of shooting Dr Mutiso at close range.
Meanwhile, detectives have widened their manhunt for two police officers wanted in connection with the killing, with investigators enlisting Interpol to help trace the fugitives, who are believed to have fled to Uganda.
Fresh court filings also indicate that the murder may have been planned months before the shooting, with a Sh300,000 down payment allegedly made to the suspected killers on April 24.
Inspector Kenneth Kipkemboi Sang and Police Constable Bett Kiplangat Collins remain at large as detectives pursue what they believe may be a wider chain linking suspected financiers, police officers, the alleged gunman, driver and motorcycle rider.
Dr Mutiso, a prominent neuroscientist and former Director of Research and Administration at the Africa Institute of Mental and Brain Health (AFRIMEB), was shot dead on July 29 while travelling in a taxi in Nairobi's Upper Hill area.
Ms Mulwa's mother, Rose, and her brother, Chris, are expected to appear before Mr Onsaringo on Tuesday for further directions. They had been detained at Kileleshwa and Kilimani police stations, respectively.
