Seven Daystar University students previously charged with murder will now participate as witnesses in a public inquest after fresh CCTV footage clarified the circumstances surrounding the death of their classmate, 23-year-old Lorna Kathambi Karani.
The development has triggered renewed scrutiny of Kenya’s investigative procedures and prosecutorial decision-making.
The footage, reviewed by investigators last week, showed that Karani fell while attempting to move between two balconies at a residential building in Nairobi.
This evidence reversed the earlier position taken by authorities, who had arraigned the students on suspicion of involvement in her death.
Such abrupt prosecutorial shifts have historically drawn concern from legal experts, particularly in cases carrying life-changing penalties.
Lawyer Willis Otieno, commenting on the matter on X, warned that the handling of the case reflects broader institutional weaknesses within the justice system.
He argued that the decision to charge the students before verifying basic facts demonstrated a significant lapse by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
“This is why we insist on institutional reforms,” Otieno wrote, adding that murder charges require accuracy, thorough review, and strong evidentiary foundations.
He further stated that the agencies appeared to have relied on “reckless guesswork” rather than a structured investigation.
His remarks mirror long-standing public debates about the quality of case preparation in Kenya, especially where young people, university communities, or politically sensitive incidents are concerned.
The case now moves to a public inquest, a process commonly used when the cause of death is contested or when prior investigations leave key questions unresolved.
Inquests allow courts to assess available evidence, establish the sequence of events, and determine whether any party bears criminal liability.
The seven students are expected to give formal testimony as the inquiry examines the circumstances leading to Karani’s fall.