NAIROBI, Kenya – Lawyer Angela Mulwa has appeared in court following her re-arrest by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) homicide detectives in connection with investigations into the murder of Dr Victoria Mutiso.
Mulwa was presented before the court on Friday, a day after she was re-arrested shortly after securing her release on Ksh1 million cash bail in a separate case involving an allegedly stolen Range Rover.
Her lawyer, Danstan Omari, challenged the continued use of miscellaneous applications to keep pursuing custodial orders against his client, questioning why prosecutors had not filed a substantive criminal charge if investigators had sufficient evidence linking Mulwa to Dr Mutiso’s killing.
Omari’s argument came after a Mavoko court declined a prosecution request to detain Mulwa for an additional seven days while the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) considered whether to charge her.
Mulwa re-arrested after securing release
Mulwa had been held alongside Nelson Masiga in a case concerning the alleged theft of a Range Rover from a disputed 21-acre parcel of land.
The vehicle was recovered at one of Mulwa’s properties in Karen and subsequently became part of investigations into the circumstances surrounding Mutiso’s death.
The Mavoko court had declined the prosecution’s request for a further seven days to complete investigations and had instead granted the suspects bond terms, including Ksh1 million each, with a surety of a similar amount.
Mulwa was subsequently released on cash bail before DCI homicide detectives re-arrested her.
Her latest court appearance is therefore part of a developing investigation in which authorities are seeking to establish whether vehicles and individuals linked to the separate land dispute case have any connection to the murder.
Lawyer questions prosecution’s approach
Omari questioned why investigators were continuing to rely on miscellaneous applications rather than presenting a substantive charge against his client.
The defence position places pressure on investigators and prosecutors to demonstrate the evidentiary basis for continuing to hold Mulwa as the murder investigation proceeds.
The prosecution has maintained that investigations are ongoing and involve tracing the ownership and movement of vehicles believed to have potential links to the circumstances surrounding Mutiso’s killing.
Authorities are also seeking to establish the identities and roles of individuals who may have been involved in the shooting.
How Dr Mutiso was killed
Dr Mutiso was fatally shot on July 29 while travelling in a cab in Nairobi’s Upper Hill area.
The vehicle was reportedly blocked by a black Toyota Prado at the junction of Mbagathi Link Road and Mawenzi Road.
Gunmen travelling on a motorcycle allegedly opened fire on the vehicle, seriously injuring Mutiso.
She was rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.
The killing triggered a homicide investigation by the DCI, with detectives pursuing several leads, including vehicles believed to have been involved in or connected to the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Investigation continues
Mulwa has not been convicted of any offence in connection with Mutiso’s murder, and the allegations against her remain subject to investigation and due process.
Her re-arrest marks a new stage in a case that has increasingly drawn attention to the links between the murder investigation, a disputed property and vehicles allegedly connected to the parties involved.
The court proceedings will determine the immediate legal basis for Mulwa’s continued detention as investigators and prosecutors decide whether the evidence warrants formal criminal charges.
