The Mavoko Law Court ordered the detention of advocate Angela Mulwa and former Eastleigh South MCA Nelson Masiga for 14 days to allow detectives to complete investigations into the alleged theft of motor vehicles belonging to the late Dr Victoria Mutiso.
Principal Magistrate Lilian Nyabando directed that the two remain in police custody after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) argued that investigators require additional time to conclude inquiries into several vehicles believed to be linked to the killing of the slain clinical psychologist and mental health researcher.
The prosecution told the court that detectives are tracing the ownership and movement of the vehicles and seeking to establish their possible connection to Dr Mutiso’s murder.
The DCI had sought to detain the suspects for 21 days, arguing that the complexity of the investigation and the seriousness of the alleged offences required additional time to complete the probe without interference.
According to the prosecution, the investigations stem from a report lodged at Mlolongo Police Station on May 4, 2026, after Dr Mutiso reported that several of her properties had been stolen while others were destroyed during an eviction carried out on February 12, 2026.
Investigators told the court that one of the vehicles reported stolen was later recovered at premises allegedly occupied by Mulwa and Masiga, while several other vehicles allegedly taken during the eviction remain unaccounted for.
The prosecution further told the court that detectives are investigating the relationship between Mulwa, Masiga and Rose Mbithe, who is separately under investigation over the alleged destruction of property.
Mbithe and her son, Chris, were on Monday ordered detained for 21 days pending the completion of investigations.
The application for extended detention was strongly opposed by defence lawyers Cliff Ombeta and Danstan Omari.
Ombeta argued that the dispute arose from a land matter in which lawful eviction orders had been issued by a competent court and executed under police supervision.
He told the court that the property where the eviction took place belonged to Rose Mbithe and not to either the deceased or the complainant, Prof. David Ndetei.
The senior lawyer further submitted that investigators had already seized the respondents’ mobile phones and could obtain any additional information through court orders, making continued detention unnecessary.
He also noted that the suspects were arrested on August 1, nearly six months after the eviction, arguing that there was no justification for holding them in custody to facilitate investigations.
Ombeta added that Mulwa has practised as an advocate of the High Court of Kenya for 26 years and posed no flight risk.
Omari described the application as an abuse of the court process, arguing that related proceedings arising from the same dispute are already pending before the Milimani Law Courts. He urged the court to decline jurisdiction and refer the matter to the Milimani court.
He further submitted that Mulwa is the daughter of the complainant, Prof. David Ndetei, and argued that her possession of one of the disputed vehicles should not, by itself, be treated as evidence of criminal conduct.
Omari urged the court to release both respondents on bond.
In response, the prosecution maintained that a family relationship does not confer a legal right to retain property reported as missing.
State counsel urged the court to balance the constitutional rights of the suspects with those of the victims, insisting that the vehicles allegedly disappeared during the eviction and that investigations remain active.
After considering the submissions, Principal Magistrate Nyabando ordered that Mulwa and Masiga remain in police custody for 14 days to allow detectives to complete investigations before any further action is taken.
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