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DPP recommends inquest into death of Daystar University student Lorna Kathambi
01st December, 2025 10:20 PM
The Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) has recommended an inquest over the murder of Lorna Kathambi Karani, a fourth-year student at Daystar University.
Lorna Kathambi died at Harmony Plaza in the Ngara area within Nairobi County on November 23, 2025, after a party with her friends who come from different universities within Nairobi.
After her death, the friends Kariuki Gitonga, Louis Osiro, Lucy Mora, Ali Kibwana, Precious Mutembei, Austin Ochieng and Wendy Kerubo were arrested and arraigned in court and were detained for seven days pending the completion of investigations into the matter.
On Monday, December 1, 2025, Investigative Officer Johnes Nyangige informed the court that he had completed his investigations and forwarded the file to the DPP, who recommended an inquest over Lorna’s death.
“After we compelled all, we forwarded to the ODPP; after they reviewed and perused the file, that is when they recommended an inquest,” Officer Nyangige told the court.
He also briefed the court on the CCTV footage and toxicology report that was conducted after the postmortem was done.
Milimani Chief Magistrate Dolphina Alego asked lawyer Cliff Ombeta, who is representing two of the students in the matter, to explain to them what ‘inquest’ means in detail.
Notably, she also told the students that the court will determine their fate after the inquest despite the CCTV footage showing the deceased died while jumping from one balcony to another, as reported by the investigative officer.
Further, Magistrate Alego allowed the DPP request but forwarded the file to another court for the commencement of the inquest.
“The application by the prosecution is hereby allowed, and the inquest request will be heard by Hon. Mugo in court number seven,” Magistrate Alego ruled.
“The matter will be mentioned on December 9, 2025, before court seven for directions and hearing,” Magistrate Mugo added.
The seven have been handed back to their parents after seven days of detention at Parklands Police Station.
Magistrate Alego also ordered that they all go back to their parents’ homes and attend school from there until they are responsible enough to stay on their own.
