A Kenyan court has directed the five suspects in the murder of clinical psychologist Dr Victoria Mutiso to physically appear in court on September 29 for plea-taking. The suspects, including Rose Mbithe Mulwa, her two children, Chris Mulwa and Angela Mulwa, and Police Constable Elijah Kibelion Kimoi, were initially supposed to attend court electronically. However, two of the suspects, Rose and Angela, declined to participate in the virtual court proceedings from their remand stations.
The court had previously issued directions for the suspects to attend court electronically, but defence counsel Danstan Omari challenged the practicality of the arrangement. Omari argued that physical presence was essential for proper legal representation, citing the need to take instructions from the suspects on whether they would plead guilty or go for plea bargaining.
Justice Alexander Muteti, who convened the virtual session, ordered that all five suspects be physically brought before the court at noon on September 29. The judge said legal protocol requires compliance before seeking variation, adding that the best thing is to seek a revision of the order but the first thing is to comply and then seek to revise the order.
Dr Mutiso was shot dead on July 29, 2026, along Mai Mahiu Road in Nairobi's Kilimani area. She was ambushed by armed assailants while travelling in a taxi to her workplace. The murder has drawn public scrutiny owing to an alleged underlying motive connected to a bitter, high-stakes property conflict involving Rose and Dr Mutiso's husband, Professor David Musyimi Ndetei.
The contested estate involves a 20-acre parcel of land in Mlolongo, Machakos county, valued at approximately Sh1.5 billion. The ownership dispute dates back to 2002, with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations alleging that the conflict escalated into the forcible eviction and demolition of properties belonging to Mutiso's family prior to her killing.
All the suspects were previously ordered to undergo psychiatric tests at Mbagathi Hospital and Lang'ata Women's Prison to establish their fitness to stand trial. The court now awaits their physical production on Tuesday for plea-taking and further directions. Rose and Angela have been detained at the Lang'ata Women's Prison.
The case has raised concerns about the security situation in the country, particularly in relation to high-stakes property conflicts. The court is expected to hear formal applications regarding consolidation on September 29. The suspects' physical appearance is crucial in determining the next course of action in the case.
Key points
- The five suspects in Dr Victoria Mutiso's murder case have been ordered to physically appear in court on September 29 for plea-taking.
- The murder is alleged to be linked to a bitter property conflict involving Rose and Dr Mutiso's husband, Professor David Musyimi Ndetei.
- The suspects were initially supposed to attend court electronically but declined, prompting the court to order their physical appearance.
