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Court detains street boy for 21 days in murder case
06th January, 2026 08:20 PM
A Nairobi court has detained a street boy linked with the murder of one Dickson Gitonga Muriuki, alias Kanyiri, who was killed within the Ngara area, for 21 days to enable completion of investigations over the matter.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) officer Antony Kerini, they are investigating Erick Kamande Muthoni, alias Erico, over the murder of Gitonga contrary to section 203 as read with section 204 of the Penal Code.
Appearing before Milimani Chief Magistrate Dolphina Alego on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, Officer Kerini told the court that the deceased died on August 15, 2025, while in the company of Mercy Wanjiku Wambui, who reported the matter at Ngara Police Station.
Officer Kerini told the court that, according to Wanjiku, on the said date, as they were walking from Tsunami market within the Ngara area towards Nairobi CBD at around 2am, they were attacked at the Tsunami footbridge by Kamande.
A fight ensued between the deceased and the respondent (Kamande), and in the process Kamande was joined by others who are still at large, who hit the deceased with a sharp object at the back of his head, leading to him succumbing to injuries.
Officer Kerini, while urging the court to grant him the 21 days, told the court that Kamande, who is one of the persons of interest in the murder, is a street boy and does not have a fixed abode; thus, he is a flight risk.
“Your honour, it has been established that the respondent (Kamande) is a street boy who has no known fixed place of abode, no known family members or contact persons and does not own or use a mobile phone,” Officer Kerini told the court.
“Due to his lack of fixed residence and identifiable social ties, there exists a high risk of absconding should he be released on bail or bond,” the officer added.
Further, he told the court the investigations are still ongoing and at a crucial stage, adding that Kamande has voluntarily indicated willingness to cooperate with investigators in recovering the murder weapon that was used.
The court heard that he has also promised to lead the police to his co-suspects who are currently in hiding and whose arrest is necessary to complete investigations and secure justice.
“Your honour, releasing the respondent (Kamande) at this stage would seriously prejudice investigations, as investigators may lose the only available lead to arrest of the co-suspects who he alleged relocated to Isiolo and Nanyuki,” the officer told the court.
Notably, he told the court that there is a likelihood that Kamande will interfere with the ongoing investigations by facilitating the disappearance of the only direct witness to the heinous act, who happens to be a close friend, as well as compromising the recovery of the murder weapon.
Magistrate Alego granted the State the 21 days they were seeking and ordered the respondent to be detained at the Central Police Station until January 27, 2026.
“The application by the State to detain the respondent (Kamande) for 21 days is hereby granted. The matter will be mentioned on January 27, 2026,” Magistrate Alego ruled.
