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Free at last! DJ Brownskin acquitted in wife’s death case
22nd January, 2026 01:48 PM
A Nairobi court has cleared Michael Macharia Njiri, popularly known as DJ Brownskin, over the charge of aiding the suicide of his late wife, Sharon Njeri Mwangi, by taking poison at their home in Kariobangi South, Nairobi.
Brownskin was also charged with neglect to prevent a felony on the same day, knowing that Sharon intended to commit suicide, and failing to use all reasonable means to prevent the suicide.
On the third count, he was charged with destroying evidence on diverse dates in 2023; while in Kasarani, knowing that his mobile phone, which was within his possession, might be required as evidence in judicial proceedings, he wilfully removed it to prevent it from being used as evidence.
However, DJ Brownskin denied all the charges, and the prosecution brought in seven witnesses.
On April 28, 2025, the court was told that the late Sharon Njeri Mwangi died on July 29, 2022, after she consumed pesticide meant to eradicate cockroaches.
Clearing the DJ of the charges, Milimani Principal Magistrate Carolyne Nyaguthii Mugo, on Thursday, January 22, 2026, ruled that the evidence produced by the prosecution did not prove him guilty.
Notably, Magistrate Nyaguthii noted that in her ruling she considered Brownskin’s and the late Njeri’s daughter’s testimony, who told the court that her father struggled to take her mother to the hospital.
“In her evidence, PW7, who was the daughter of the deceased, told the court, ‘I know my dad very well; he was a loving father and husband. Dad struggled to carry Mum and went to the hospital with her. These are actions of a person who cares’,” Magistrate Mugo said in her ruling.
Further, she stated that the evidence tabled in court is clear that the deceased died on July 29, 2022, but the accused was arrested on June 1, 2023, which was almost one year after the deceased had committed suicide.
She also stated that it was revealed that the arrest occurred after a video showing the deceased taking poison was leaked online after wrangles emerged between Brownskin and the in-laws over the custody of the children left by the deceased.
It emerged the video’s intention – or at least the leaked video – was meant to negatively affect the accused person in the custody battle.
Magistrate Nyanguthii also noted that the said video, which was the most important key evidence in the case, was not produced in court.
The court has ruled that it has not found Brownskin guilty of the three charges that were lodged against him and cleared him of all three.
“Having considered the evidence in totality, should the accused person elect not to offer any defence, the court cannot simply convict him in any of the counts. I therefore find that a prima facie case has not been established against the accused person, and I proceed to acquit the accused person on all the counts,” Magistrate Nyaguthii ruled.
