A Kenyan court has granted police a 10-day detention for actress Regina Wambui Gitau, popularly known as Regina Re, and three relatives in connection with the murder of her 86-year-old mother, Dorita Lasinder Macharia. The detention allows police to complete investigations into the killing, which occurred on October 31, 2026, at their home in Loresho, Nairobi. Regina Re is known for hosting the game show "Who's Smarter Now?" from 1999 to 2006.
According to police, Regina Re and her brother, Antony Jimmy Macharia, were found attempting to interfere with the crime scene by cleaning the room where the murder took place. The investigating officer, David Njoroge, told the court that preliminary investigations suggest Dorita had questioned her granddaughter, Thandie Malaika Wanjiku Gitao, about her conduct, leading to a confrontation. Thandie and her boyfriend, Immanuel Waigwe Munyeki, were also detained alongside Regina Re and her brother.
The court heard that Dorita had discovered Thandie and her boyfriend in a compromising position inside the house and demanded that they leave and hand over the keys to the property. Following a commotion, Dorita called her son to help evict Thandie, but she later returned to the house. About an hour later, Dorita was found with a deep cut on the left side of her neck and lying in a pool of blood. Thandie allegedly ran out of the house screaming for help.
The four suspects, including Regina Re, her brother, Thandie, and her boyfriend, will undergo a mental examination to establish whether they are fit to stand trial. The court noted that after the investigation, the file will be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to decide whether to charge them with murder. The suspects were driven to Gigiri Police Station, where they will be questioned.
Both the prosecution and the family's lawyers agreed that police need time to complete investigations, including analyzing CCTV footage, recording witness statements, and carrying out a postmortem to establish the cause of death. Senior Counsel Philip Murgor, representing the family, supported the prosecution's request to detain the suspects.
Magistrate B.A. Amino ruled that murder is a serious offense and that police need time to complete their investigations. The court established that enough grounds existed to warrant the detention of the suspects for 10 days. The suspects will be held at Gigiri Police Station.
Regina Re and her relatives have not been charged with any offense. The investigation is ongoing, and the DPP will decide on potential charges after the probe is completed.
Key points
- Actress Regina Re and three relatives detained for 10 days in connection with the murder of her 86-year-old mother.
- The suspects were found attempting to interfere with the crime scene, and police allege a confrontation led to the murder.
- The investigation is ongoing, with police analyzing evidence and recording witness statements.
