A Nairobi court has granted Samuel Karanja Gathoni alias “Wakili” an additional 14 days in custody as investigators and prosecutors consider using him as a prosecution witness in the murder case involving Dr Victoria Nthunya Mutiso.
Gathoni is among the suspects linked to the killing of Dr Mutiso, who was fatally shot in Nairobi on July 29, 2026.
He was arrested alongside two other suspects after investigations traced them to Uganda and they were subsequently returned to Kenya.
According to court documents, investigators told the court that Gathoni had provided information considered crucial to the investigation, prompting the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to consider having him testify for the prosecution.
The Witness Protection Agency (WPA) has already interviewed Gathoni regarding the information he provided.
The interview was conducted on September 24, 2026, with arrangements now underway to determine his admission into the Witness Protection Programme.
The prosecution sought additional time to keep Gathoni in custody at Kilimani Police Station or another police station while the protection arrangements are finalised.
The court granted the requested 14-day extension.
Investigators cited concerns over Gathoni’s safety, noting that some suspects linked to the murder are still at large.
They also pointed to pending forensic examinations and the risk of interference with witnesses, collusion or destruction of evidence.
The Witness Protection Agency says its programme provides special protection to people who possess important information and face potential risks because of their cooperation with law enforcement agencies.
The development marks a significant turn in the investigation into Dr Mutiso’s death, with authorities now seeking to secure information they say could assist in establishing what happened and the roles of those allegedly involved.
