By Bonface Mulyungi

A Machakos court has granted police 21 days to detain a man linked to the brutal killing of three young men who were lynched and set ablaze after being mistaken for thieves.

Christopher Mwenda Robert, a Probox driver, was arraigned before Machakos Senior Principal Magistrate Betty Koech, who allowed an application by the prosecution seeking more time to complete investigations into the incident that occurred on the night of May 31, 2026.

Mwenda will remain in custody at Machakos Police Station as detectives pursue further inquiries into the deaths of Kennedy Mutiso, 29, his younger brother Stanley Muthungu, 22, and their family friend Charles Mutiso, 25.

According to court documents, investigators believe Mwenda allegedly knocked down one of the victims at around 3am before raising alarm and claiming he was being carjacked.

The prosecution told the court that the allegation triggered a violent response from nearby boda boda riders and members of the public, culminating in the mob attack on the three young men.

The victims had reportedly been walking home after watching the UEFA Champions League final between PSG and Arsenal when the incident occurred.

Family members say one of the three was struck by Mwenda’s vehicle, prompting the group to confront the driver and demand accountability.

During the ensuing altercation, Mwenda allegedly called for reinforcement from boda boda operators, claiming the trio were criminals attempting to hijack him.

Within minutes, a crowd gathered and descended on the three men. They were beaten, doused with petrol and set on fire.

The victims sustained burns covering between 90 and 95 per cent of their bodies. Their remains were later collected by police and taken to Machakos Level 5 Hospital mortuary, where they were initially recorded as unidentified persons.

For four days, relatives searched separately for the missing men before eventually discovering their bodies at the mortuary.

Speaking after postmortem examinations at Montezuma Funeral Home, lawyer Musyoki Mutava said the three died from severe burn injuries and condemned those responsible for the attack.

“At the point of their death they were in good health. They died out of the injuries they got. If anyone knows what transpired that night, please share it. These families deserve justice,” said Mutava.

The postmortem revealed that the victims suffered extensive burns concentrated on the head and upper body.

Charles Mutiso was also found to have sustained an ankle injury, while Kennedy and Stanley suffered head injuries consistent with blunt force trauma.

Medical findings further showed that all three inhaled significant amounts of carbon monoxide during the attack, a factor that contributed to their deaths.

Connie Mutiso, Charles’ mother, recounted the last moments she spent with her son before the tragedy.

She said she had travelled to Machakos with him on Saturday and that he left home at around 6pm to watch the Champions League final but never returned.

“I demand justice for these boys. They were born here, schooled here, grew up here. Why would they be killed like this? We need answers,” she said.

The families described the victims as close friends who were inseparable and always stood up for one another.

Investigators have told the court they require additional time to obtain CCTV footage from the area, interview witnesses and gather further evidence to establish the circumstances that led to the killings.

Police sources indicated that detectives are reviewing surveillance footage from nearby businesses as they seek to reconstruct the events of that night.

Machakos County Criminal Investigations Officer Kassim Baricha confirmed that investigations are ongoing and said the arrest of the key suspect is expected to help detectives establish exactly what transpired before the fatal mob attack.

“We are continuing with investigations to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the three young men. The suspect is assisting police with investigations,” Baricha said.

The case will be mentioned after the expiry of the 21-day detention period as investigations continue.