By : Rhoda Bogeta
Seven university students detained over the death of 23-year-old Daystar University student Lorna Kathambi Karani have been released after the court was informed that investigations into the incident were complete.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) told the court that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had concluded the probe and found the respondents innocent. The DPP therefore requested that the matter be placed before a magistrate for disposal through a public inquest.
The prosecution further asked the court to designate the first to seventh respondents as witnesses in the intended inquest proceedings.
The court heard that a postmortem examination had been conducted, revealing that the deceased succumbed to injuries sustained after falling from the 12th floor of Harmony Plaza.
According to CCTV footage recovered and analysed by DCI forensic officers, the deceased was seen jumping from a rail toward the balcony of the first accused.
The footage also showed that the first accused had jumped first and was with the deceased moments before she fell, although she failed to land safely.
The prosecution therefore prayed that the investigation file be closed. The court directed the DPP to formally file an application seeking closure of the case.
The presiding Magistrate Dolphina Alego scheduled the matter for mention on December 9, 2025, for further directions and allocation of a hearing date.
Earlier, the Milimani Magistrates Court had ordered the seven students to remain in custody for seven days as police continued with investigations. The suspects , Kariuki Gitonga, Louis Osiro, Lucy Mora, Ali Kibwana, Precious Mutembei, Austin Ochieng, and Wendy Kerubo ,were arrested on November 23 after being seen with Kathambi throughout the night preceding her death.
Police reports indicated that CCTV footage and witness accounts placed the group at Harmony Plaza at 2:27 a.m., where they proceeded to an apartment to continue partying. Security guard Patrick Mbugua testified that he warned them to reduce noise, and they briefly complied.
At 4:10 a.m., four members of the group left the building and later returned with Dennis Gitonga, a tenant on the 11th floor, who assured the guard that the group were his guests. Mbugua said he cautioned them again against causing disturbance.
Moments after the group walked toward the lift area, Mbugua heard a loud bang. When he rushed downstairs, he found Kathambi lying unresponsive on the ground floor.
In remarks made off the record, Magistrate Alego addressed the parents and guardians of the accused, urging them to counsel their children during the period of detention and encouraging them to form a support system.
“I am speaking to you as a mother, not as a Magistrate,” she said.
