The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has obtained a court order to detain Augustine Neto Amwayi, the prime suspect in the murder of Felister Kalekye Katûa, who was stabbed to death last week at her workplace in Uhuru Market, Nairobi.
Senior Principal Magistrate Joseph Karanja granted the request for Amwayi to be held at the Buruburu Police Station for 15 days as investigators continue to probe the circumstances surrounding Katûa’s tragic death.
The order was secured by Detective Constable Neville Mwabili, who is leading the investigation.
In an affidavit filed in court, Detective Mwabili revealed that Amwayi, Katûa’s ex-husband, attacked her with a kitchen knife at her place of work, where she was knitting school uniforms.
The officer confirmed that Katûa succumbed to injuries inflicted during the brutal stabbing.
“The deceased succumbed to injuries inflicted on her by the suspect,” Mwabili said in his affidavit.
The lifeless body of Katûa was discovered at her workplace, with visible injuries. Members of the public helped the Jongoo Road Police Station officers identify Amwayi, leading to his subsequent arrest.
The detective confirmed that investigations into the murder are ongoing, with plans to conduct mental assessments and a post-mortem to confirm the exact cause of death.
Investigators are also collecting witness statements to build a stronger case against Amwayi.
Amwayi appeared before Magistrate Karanja on Monday evening, but the proceedings were briefly delayed due to a dispute over his attire.
The suspect claimed that he was wearing borrowed trousers from a fellow inmate and was concerned about being left without appropriate clothing after court.
However, Detective Mwabili informed the court that the trousers Amwayi was wearing had blood stains, believed to be Katûa’s blood, potentially linking the suspect to the crime scene.
“The trouser has been kept as an exhibit because it was found with blood stains,” Mwabili told the court.
Amwayi’s trousers have been submitted to the government chemist for a DNA analysis, which will be crucial to determine if the blood on them matches that of the deceased.
This will be used as evidence in the ongoing case against Amwayi.
While Magistrate Karanja agreed with the DCI’s application to detain Amwayi for 15 days, he expressed concern over the issue of the suspect’s clothing.
He directed that arrangements should be made for the suspect to receive a pair of trousers to protect his dignity while in detention.
The magistrate gave the DCI one night to ensure that Amwayi’s basic dignity was upheld by providing him with appropriate clothing, while the investigation continues.
