Court detains seven students over mysterious death of a lady at apartment block

Seven university students have been remanded in custody for seven days as police investigate the death of a 23-year-old woman who fell from the 12th floor of an apartment block.

The suspects appeared before Senior Principal Magistrate Dolphina Alego at the Milimani Law Courts on Thursday in connection with the death of Lorna Kathambi Karani, a former Daystar University student at the Athi River campus.

Lorna is said to have plunged to her death from the 12th floor of Harmony Plaza in the early hours of November 23, 2025.

Although the initial assumption was that she had jumped, detectives suspect foul play after the post-mortem examination revealed injuries inconsistent with a simple fall from height.

Presenting the State’s case, the investigating officer, Corporal Nyangige, told the court that the seven individuals had spent the evening partying with the deceased.

He requested additional time to interrogate the group, record statements from witnesses, obtain call-data records and complete forensic analysis before deciding whether to charge them with murder.

“I also intend to analyse their call data before deciding whether to prefer murder charges against the seven,” Corporal Nyangige told the court.

Magistrate Alego ruled that the police had met the legal threshold for detention and ordered the seven to be held at Parklands Police Station.

She noted that the suspects posed a flight risk, as their places of residence had not been verified.

Court documents show that the group arrived at Harmony Plaza shortly after midnight.

A security guard challenged them at the entrance, but resident Dennis Kariuki Gitonga claimed they were his guests.

Neighbours later complained about loud music and noise coming from the flat.

The guard intervened and asked them to turn the music down.

The group briefly left the premises but returned around 4am.

Minutes later, the guard heard a heavy thud and discovered Lorna's body on the ground below.

The seven suspects are Dennis Kariuki Gitonga, Louis Osiro, Lucy Moraa, Ali Kibwana Kamaki, Precious Kendi Mutembei, Austin Ochieng, and Wendy Kerubo.

They are due back in court in seven days’ time.

In a parting remark, Magistrate Alego advised university students to avoid excessive drinking and to promote responsible behaviour.