7 detained over the death of Daystar University student
A Nairobi court has granted the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) seven days to detain seven students over the death of a Daystar fourth-year student who died in the Ngara area within Nairobi County.
The seven were arrested on Sunday, November 23, 2025, in connection with or having a hand in the death of Lorna Kathambi Karani, since they had been seen together throughout the night while they were partying.
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According to a notice of motion by officer Johnes Nyangige, Kariuki Gitonga, Louis Osiro, Lucy Mora, Ali Kibwana, Precious Mutembei, Austin Ochieng and Wendy Kerubo were reported to have arrived at Harmony Plaza at 0227 hours.
The students then proceeded to one of the houses at the apartment, where they were heard partying while making noise, shouting, singing and playing guitar, prompting the security guard of the apartment, Patrick Mbugua, to go and order them to stop, which they obeyed.
Four of them then later left the apartment premises at 0410 hours and later returned with Dennis Gitonga, who is a tenant on the 11th floor, who informed the guard that the rest were his guests, and the security guard warned them not to make noise.
The security guard states that the group then proceeded to the lift, and it was after a few minutes that he heard a big bang. He hurriedly went to check what had happened and found the body of Kathambi, a 23-year-old, lying dead on the ground floor.
Investigations
The prosecution sought to detain the students for 10 days to enable Officer Nyangige to complete his investigations into the matter.
Officer Nyangige told the court that there is crucial information that has not been recorded, informing the court of the need for the ten days they are requesting.
Further, the prosecution informed the court that the seven students are flight risks and do not have a fixed abode since they were staying in a rental apartment.
“Owing to the gravity of charges facing the respondents (seven students) and the fact that they have no known place of abode and pose a flight risk when released since they were staying in a residential house within Ngara,” the State told the court.
“Your Honour, four of the respondents were found sleeping in one room and were all drunk. I would urge you to consider the nature of the case; the investigative officer has given compelling reasons to detain them,” the prosecution added.
Milimani Chief Magistrate Dolphina Alego, on Monday, November 24, 2025, detained the seven students for seven days to enable the officer to complete his investigations.
