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DPP withdraws murder charges against police officer in Mukuru shooting
18th February, 2026 06:06 PM
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has withdrawn murder charges against police officer Patrick Mutunga Titus in the fatal shooting of Shukri Adan Ibrahim Issaka.
Mutunga was listed as the second suspect in the murder of Shukri in the Mukuru area of Nairobi County on January 11, 2026, alongside his fellow officer Godwin Mwashuke Mjomba.
Appearing before Makadara High Court Judge Muya Martin Mati on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Gikui Gichui informed the court that they have struck out Mutunga from their charge sheet.
State Counsel Gichui informed the court that their decision comes after they verified a court order issued by Lady Justice Aburili Roselyne Ekirapa staying the plea taking of Mutunga.
Meanwhile, Mutunga’s legal team did not oppose the withdrawal and urged the court to issue an order directing his release from Industrial Area Remand, where he had been detained.
“We are not objecting; we only pray that a release order be issued to the Industrial Remand Police Station for administration purposes so that we can have him released,” Mutunga’s lawyer told the court.
The court ordered that the officer be released from remand pending the hearing and determination of his application at the High Court Judicial Review Division.
“Patrick Mutunga Titus is hereby discharged, release orders issued,” Judge Muya ordered.
Mutunga moved to the High Court Judicial Review Division on February 6, 2026, seeking orders quashing the decision of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) to charge him with murder.
He urged the court to stay plea-taking in the murder charge before the Makadara High Court that had been scheduled for Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
According to Mutunga, there is no basis upon which he is being charged with the offence of murder since the arms movement register shows that all the ammunition that he was given was intact and that the autopsy report shows that the deceased died of a single fatal shot in the head.
“That although he had a gun with him, lawfully issued to him, he never used it to shoot the deceased, and therefore the prosecution and IPOA have no basis upon which to charge him with the offence of murder,” Officer Mutunga states in his application.
In addition, Mutunga avers that the firearm register shows that the applicant never discharged any ammunition to shoot anyone and that he returned or surrendered the firearm with all its 30 rounds of ammunition intact.
He contends that the decision to charge him is unreasonable, as there is no legal evidence manifestly to prove the charge of murder against him.
