Victoria Mutiso Murder: ‘Wakili’ Set for Witness Protection

A Nairobi court has granted police permission to detain Samuel Karanja Gathoni, alias Wakili, for an additional 14 days as authorities move to place him under the Witness Protection Programme in connection with the murder of Dr. Victoria Mutiso.

Gathoni, listed as the third respondent in an application filed on October 1, 2026, delivered critical leads to investigators. His detailed account prompted the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to consider turning him into a key prosecution witness rather than a defendant.

“The 3rd respondent gave crucial information to the investigating team hence the ODPP and investigating team intends to use them as prosecution witness,” court documents state.

In an affidavit sworn by Corporal Romana Odour of the DCI Homicide Investigations Bureau, investigators revealed that the Witness Protection Agency (WPA) interviewed Gathoni on September 24, 2026, to assess the value and credibility of his statement. DCI officers told the court that formal arrangements are now under way to integrate him into the witness protection system.

To secure his safety during the transition, the prosecution requested to hold Gathoni at Kilimani Police Station, or an alternative facility, for two more weeks while agency officials finalize his protection protocol. The court granted the request in full.

Detectives pointed out that Gathoni faces severe safety risks because several accomplices tied to the high-profile homicide remain at large. Beyond protecting the potential witness, state attorneys highlighted ongoing forensic examinations alongside serious risks of witness tampering, suspect collusion, and evidence destruction as grounds for his extended stay in custody.

Investigators argued that these combined security threats and pending forensic procedures created compelling grounds to restrict Gathoni’s freedom while team members wrap up the remaining legs of the investigation.

The murder investigation has already yielded significant progress, with five suspects officially charged in court over the death of Dr. Mutiso.

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