Angela Mulwa, Chris Mulwa and their mother Rose Mbithe charged with the murder of Dr Victoria Nthunya Mutiso. The three are yet to take plea after the court directed that they undergo mental assessment at Mbagathi Hospital. They are scheduled to take plea on September 23, 2026/LEAH MUKANGAI
Elijah Kibelion appears before Justice Kanyi Kimondo at the Milimani High Court in Nairobi on August 27, 2026. He is yet to take plea after the court directed that he will undergo a mental assessment at Mbagathi Hospital. He is scheduled to take plea on September 23, 2026/LEAH MUKANGAIFour suspects accused of murdering Dr Victoria Thunya Mutiso will undergo mental assessments before they can formally plead to the charges.
The suspects — Angela Mulwa, Rose Mbithe Mulwa, Chris Mulwa and Elijah Kibelion Kimoi — appeared before Justice Kanyi Kimondo at the Milimani Law Courts on Thursday.
The court heard that the four, jointly with others not before the court, murdered Dr Mutiso on July 29, 2026, at about 9.30am along Mawensi Road in Kilimani, Nairobi County.
When the matter came up, Justice Kimondo immediately asked the prosecution whether the accused had been submitted to an examination as to their mental fitness.
“The same was to be done by the prison authorities, and it was not possible for them to be done while at the police station. They were detained at the police station,” the prosecution responded.
The court heard that the psychiatric assessment would require 14 days.
“They need not make any comment or plead to that charge until they undergo a psychiatric test at the Mbagathi Hospital or any other convenient government facility in Nairobi at the earliest. So, the plea will be then adjourned to another date,” the judge ruled.
Although the murder charge was read to them, the suspects did not enter a plea.
Lawyer Cliff Ombeta represents the three accused persons in the murder case of the late Dr. Victoria Mutiso at Milimani High Court, Nairobi on August 27, 2026/LEAH MUKANGAI
They face a charge of murder contrary to Section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code.
Justice Kimondo also directed that Kimoi be provided with legal representation and ordered that the deputy registrar of the High Court shall appoint pro bono legal counsel for the accused officer.
The court further directed that Kimoi be held at the Nairobi Remand Prison.
The prosecution indicated that it would make an application on September 23, before the trial judge, for consolidation of the two matters, suggesting that the cases against the Mulwa family and the police officer are interconnected.
Prosecution counsel Jalson Makori leads the bench during the murder case of the late Dr Victoria Mutiso at Milimani High Court, Nairobi on August 27, 2026/LEAH MUKANGAIThe suspects will return to court after the mental assessments, when they are expected to take a plea before Justice Alexander Muteti.
Rose and Angela shall be detained at Lang'ata Women's Prison, while Chris will be held at the Nairobi Remand Prison.
The defence, through lawyer Danstan Omari, had preferred that the suspects remain at the police station to facilitate their access to court for other pending matters related to a land dispute, which the defence described as part of this issue that is in this case.
However, the prosecution objected, stating that protection orders could be issued by the court if needed and that the accused could attend other matters through online arrangements facilitated by prison authorities.
Justice Kimondo declined to revisit his earlier orders.
Dr Mutiso, a psychiatrist and former Director of the African Institute of Mental and Brain Health, was fatally shot in Nairobi on July 29, 2026.
The court heard on Monday that preliminary investigations had established that Dr Mutiso was involved in a land dispute that was pending before a court in Machakos.
Before her death, Dr Mutiso had also reported an incident in which two armed individuals riding a motorcycle allegedly confronted her while she was driving in Nairobi.
