Court Detains KDF Officer in Connection with Christmas Day Killing

NAKURU, Kenya – A Nakuru court has granted police five days to detain a senior Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officer accused of killing a 74-year-old man during a Christmas Day altercation at a police station canteen.

The suspect, identified as Sergeant John Kimani Muturi in court documents, is alleged to have fatally attacked Moris Gachanja during a drinking session at the Githioro Police Station canteen in Bahati.

The prosecution sought 14 days to hold Muturi to complete investigations, citing the complexity of the case and the potential for interference with evidence.

Detective Jackson Okeyo, attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Bahati, told the court that several investigative steps were still pending.

These include conducting a postmortem examination on the deceased, retrieving forensic data from Muturi’s phones, and recording statements from key witnesses, including the suspect’s girlfriend and patrons at the canteen.

Okeyo argued that Muturi posed a flight risk due to his military background and access to resources that could facilitate his escape.

He further claimed that Muturi’s military status could intimidate witnesses, many of whom are allegedly his relatives.

However, Muturi’s lawyer, Harry Gakinya, opposed the application, stating that a postmortem had already been conducted and witnesses had recorded their statements.

He accused the police of failing to engage military police, who were present at the scene on the day of the incident, for additional information.

Senior Resident Magistrate Vincent Adet granted the prosecution five days, citing gaps in the case that require clarification.

He also directed that Muturi be taken to a hospital and ordered the officer in charge of Githioro Police Station to document the suspect’s complaints.

The case is set to be mentioned on January 3, as investigators race against time to piece together the events leading to Gachanja’s death.