Murder: Police get more time to hold Regina Re, daughter's boyfriend freed

By  Richard Munguti

Correspondent

Nation Media Group

Actress and former television host Regina Wambui Gitau, popularly known as Regina Re, and two relatives will remain in police custody for two more days as detectives investigate the murder of her 86-year-old mother in Loresho, Nairobi.

Kibera Magistrate Barbara Akinyi allowed the prosecution's request to keep the three suspects at Gigiri Police Station. She also ordered the immediate release of Immanuel Munyeki, who was alleged to be the boyfriend of Thandie Malaika Wanjiku Gitao, after detectives said they had found no evidence linking him to the murder of Dorita Lasinder Macharia.

The matter will be mentioned on November 17, 2026, for directions.

Ms Lasinder was found murdered in her house at Loresho Ridge Estate on October 31, 2026, with a deep cut on the left side of her neck.

'Compelling evidence'

In her ruling, Ms Akinyi said the prosecution had presented compelling evidence to justify holding the suspects longer so detectives could complete their investigations and interrogations.

The magistrate declined to order that the suspects be escorted to Ms Lasinder's burial on Tuesday.

Prosecuting counsel Faith Musona told the court that eight witnesses had recorded statements and that CCTV footage from the estate had been analysed.

"The postmortem has been conducted and eight witnesses have recorded statements," Ms Musona said.

The prosecution also said a senior counsel who had been representing the deceased's family had been turned into a prosecution witness.

Defence lawyer David Oyatta opposed the request, arguing that the period sought was excessive. He told the court that Thandie, the deceased's granddaughter, was a student preparing for her examinations.

What police told the court

In an earlier application, investigating officer Police Constable David Njoroge told the court that preliminary investigations indicated that Ms Lasinder had quarrelled with her granddaughter after allegedly finding her with her boyfriend, identified as Alton, in a compromising situation in her bedroom.

The elderly woman reportedly became angry and ordered her granddaughter to leave the house and surrender the room keys. She also told several friends who were allegedly in the house to leave.

Police told the court that after the quarrel, the deceased called her son, Jimmy, to help evict her granddaughter.

Although Thandie initially left the house, she allegedly returned later and stayed inside with the deceased for about an hour, the court heard.

Mr Njoroge told the court that Ms Lasinder was later found lying in a pool of blood, while her granddaughter allegedly rushed outside screaming, "She is bleeding!" to friends who were waiting outside.

The suspects were arrested at about 2am on October 31 and taken to Gigiri Police Station.

Why detectives want more time

Detectives had sought more time to analyse CCTV footage retrieved from the estate, conduct forensic examinations, obtain fingerprints and mobile phone call data records, and record statements from key witnesses.

They also intended to have a government pathologist conduct a postmortem before forwarding the file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for directions.

The investigating officer further told the court that the suspects had indicated they were willing to provide information that could lead to the arrest of other alleged accomplices who were still at large.

Police maintained that releasing the suspects before completing investigations could compromise efforts to establish the circumstances of the killing.

The suspects are being investigated for murder, contrary to Section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code. None of them has been charged.

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