By Gabriel Somba

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Kasarani is holding five suspects in connection with the death of a man who allegedly fell from the fourth floor of an apartment during a house party under unclear circumstances.

The deceased, who has since been identified after his family reported him missing, succumbed to his injuries shortly after being rushed to Jessy Kay Hospital along Lumumba Drive, where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.

Among those in custody are housemates Harriet Muthoni and Caroline Njoki, in whose residence the incident occurred, as well as Hinges Wangari and Zekira Hamisi Mindamba. Also being held is Renny Chemai, who had travelled from Ndiani in Kwale County to visit his girlfriend, one of the housemates.

The murder suspects in the dock at the Makadara Law Courts.[Gabriel Somba]

According to court filings, investigators are treating the case as murder contrary to Section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code. Corporal Joshua Sila of Kasarani DCI sought to have the suspects detained for 20 days to allow for thorough investigations. However, Senior Resident Magistrate Wandia Nyamu ordered that they remain in custody for 10 days instead.

Police reports indicate that the deceased was not known to the suspects before the party. He had met them at a nearby wines and spirits shop before joining the group at the apartment. During the gathering, an altercation broke out, and detectives suspect he may have been pushed from the fourth floor.

Chemai, who police say is cooperating with investigators, was reportedly outside the house when the fight erupted. He is said to have been struck by a stray object thrown from the apartment but later witnessed the fall. He rushed to the scene, where he found the victim, and later provided police with details of a vehicle allegedly used by three other men who fled the house after the incident.

Police are now pursuing the three men believed to have been at the party.

“The challenge is that Chemai does not know them personally, nor the other women present, except the girlfriend he had gone to visit,” a Kasarani DCI officer told The Kenya Times.

The investigation continues as detectives piece together the events that led to the fatal fall.