By Anchor Writer
The prosecution has dramatically shifted course in the killing of Machakos club bouncer Dominic Munuve.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions(ODPP) dropped the murder charge previously contemplated by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
Apparent flip-flops by the ODPP and delays in charging the suspects had sparked public outrage before Thursday’s move to substitute the charge with a lesser count of manslaughter.
In a move that could further inflame tensions around the case, the State also withdrew all charges against the second suspect, Mueni Muthama, leading to her immediate release by the court.
When the matter came up before Chief Magistrate J. Kituku, the ODPP informed the court that upon review of the file, the available evidence no longer supported a charge of murder, which in law requires proof of malice aforethought.
Instead, the State elected to proceed on manslaughter, an offence arising from unlawful but unintentional killing.
The decision effectively confirmed the prosecution’s earlier posture that had raised suspicion among the victim’s family, particularly after the suspects were released on bail before plea without opposition from the State.
Only one suspect, Kennedy Mutie Mbithi, now remains before the court. Mbithi, wearing a hood and mask that effectively concealed his face, took plea and denied the charge.
The court revised his bond terms, releasing him on a bond of Sh300,000 with one surety of same value.
The case is scheduled for mention on February 10, 2026.
The latest turn comes against the backdrop of sustained anger from Munuve’s family, who have consistently alleged interference and preferential handling of the suspects from the earliest stages of the case.
The family had questioned why suspects in a killing described as brutal and public were released before plea, and why prosecutorial advice appeared delayed despite heightened public interest.
Munuve was shot three times in Machakos Town in the early hours of Christmas Day while on duty as a club bouncer, a killing that shocked residents and drew intense scrutiny over how the investigation and prosecution were being handled.
While the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has previously denied any external influence, insisting decisions were guided by law and public interest, the downgrading of the charge and the freeing of one suspect are likely to deepen public debate over accountability, transparency, and confidence in the criminal justice process.
The matter now proceeds as a manslaughter case, even as the victim’s family continues to demand answers over what they see as a pattern of decisions that have steadily softened the State’s case.
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