Lawyers Quit Defence of 3 Suspects in Victoria Mutiso Murder Case

Lawyers Quit Defence of 3 Suspects in Victoria Mutiso Murder Case

Lawyers representing three suspects in the murder case of Dr Victoria Nthunya Mutiso have withdrawn from the proceedings after disagreements with their clients over how the case should be handled.

Prominent defence lawyers Danstan Omari, Cliff Ombeta and members of the defence team informed the High Court in Nairobi on Tuesday, September 29, that they no longer wished to represent the three accused persons.

The dramatic development came as the defence team had prepared to argue applications seeking the release of their clients on bail. However, the lawyers told the court that additional allegations had emerged that were not part of the legal strategy they had discussed with the accused.

Omari said the defence team had arrived in court intending to focus on the bail application but found itself confronted with new issues, including allegations of torture, bribery and tribalism.

“Our intention was very good, it was very bona fide, for the purposes of getting our clients on board as early as possible. We wanted to do the bail application today.”

The lawyer said the new allegations created difficulties for the defence team because they had not been incorporated into the instructions previously given by the accused.

“We walk into court knowing that today is a bail application, but another application that has been filed today tries to bring about a bail application, whereby the state looks at it, says that they have got issues that have been raised that are very weighty. There are allegations of bribery, there are allegations of torture.”

The lawyers maintained that their decision was based on what they considered to be the interests of their clients and was not motivated by publicity or financial considerations.

“We don’t do it for the sake of money or publicity. We are not interested in that. It is in the best interest of the client. And if we are not going to agree, the best interest of the client right now was that we withdraw.”

Justice Alexander Muteti allowed the lawyers to cease acting for the three accused after the suspects did not object to the withdrawal. The development leaves the three suspects to make arrangements for alternative legal representation as the case proceeds.

The case involves five people who are facing murder charges over the death of Dr Mutiso, a prominent clinical psychologist who was shot in Nairobi on July 29, 2026. The five include Rose Mbithe Mulwa, her children Chris Mulwa and Angela Mulwa, police officer Elijah Kibelion Kimoi and Kimutai Maritim.

Prosecutors allege that the accused jointly participated in the killing, although the charges remain allegations and the accused are entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

The court had earlier directed several suspects to undergo mental assessments before plea-taking. The matter was subsequently scheduled for physical appearance before the High Court following earlier difficulties with virtual proceedings.

Dr Mutiso was allegedly ambushed while travelling in a taxi to work along Mawensi Road in Nairobi. Investigators have linked the case to a long-running property dispute, with the prosecution alleging that the killing was connected to disagreements involving a parcel of land in Mlolongo.

The murder investigation has also expanded beyond Kenya, with detectives previously arresting suspects in Uganda in connection with the case. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations said the arrests followed forensic investigations and cooperation with Ugandan authorities.

The latest courtroom development adds another twist to the high-profile murder proceedings, with the defence expected to reorganise before the court proceeds with the pending bail applications and other directions in the case.

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Lawyers Quit Defence of 3 Suspects in Victoria Mutiso Murder Case