NAIROBI, Kenya — Two suspects are set to face murder charges after a man who had been hospitalized for more than two months following a violent assault in Nairobi’s Umoja estate succumbed to his injuries, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said.
Police identified the deceased as Nicholas Kamau Kagecho, a 54-year-old resident of Umoja, who died on March 6 after a prolonged stay in intensive care.
According to detectives, Kagecho was brutally assaulted during the night of December 24–25, 2025, in what investigators described as a domestic dispute that escalated into violence.
The victim sustained severe injuries during the attack and was initially rushed to Metropolitan Hospital for emergency treatment.
Due to the seriousness of his condition, doctors later transferred him to Kenyatta National Hospital, where he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.
Medical personnel battled for weeks to stabilize him as police launched investigations into the circumstances surrounding the assault.
Suspects Identified and Arrested
Detectives later established that the victim had allegedly been attacked by two of his stepsons, identified as Brandon Githinji, 29, and Benard Lee Ngugi, 22.
Investigators said preliminary findings indicated the assault stemmed from domestic disagreements that escalated into a violent confrontation.
The suspects were arrested on December 28, 2025, and later presented in court under a miscellaneous application seeking custodial orders while detectives completed investigations as the victim remained hospitalized.
Initial Charges and Custody
Following the early stages of investigations and medical assessments confirming the severity of the injuries, prosecutors initially charged the suspects with grievous harm contrary to Section 234 of the Penal Code.
The court ordered that the two be remanded to Industrial Area Remand Prison pending further legal proceedings.
Meanwhile, Kagecho remained in critical condition at Kenyatta National Hospital for more than two months as doctors closely monitored his progress.
Charges Upgraded to Murder
Authorities said the legal status of the case changed after the victim succumbed to the injuries sustained during the assault.
The DCI confirmed that the charges against the two suspects will now be upgraded to murder contrary to Section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code.
Under Kenyan law, a murder conviction can attract severe penalties, including life imprisonment or the death sentence.
Detectives said investigations remain ongoing as authorities finalize legal procedures required to formally present the upgraded charges in court.
The suspects remain in custody at Industrial Area Remand Prison as the case proceeds through the judicial process.
