By Andrew Kariuki
Two men accused of violently assaulting their stepfather in Umoja, Nairobi, are now set to face murder charges after the victim succumbed to his injuries more than two months after the attack.
The deceased, Nicholas Kamau Kagecho, 54, was brutally assaulted on the night of December 24–25, 2025, in what investigators have described as a domestic dispute that escalated into violence.
Following the attack, Kagecho sustained serious injuries and was rushed to Metropolitan Hospital for emergency treatment.
Due to the severity of his condition, doctors later transferred him to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) where he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
As doctors worked to stabilize him, police launched investigations into the circumstances surrounding the assault.
Detectives established that the victim had allegedly been attacked by two of his stepsons, Brandon Githinji, 29, and Benard Lee Ngugi, 22.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the assault was linked to ongoing domestic disagreements within the family that allegedly escalated into a violent confrontation.
The two suspects were arrested on December 28, 2025, following investigations by detectives.
They were later presented in court under a Miscellaneous Application, where investigators sought orders to detain them while completing investigations, as the victim remained hospitalized in critical condition.
As the investigation progressed and medical reports confirmed the seriousness of the injuries, the suspects were formally charged with grievous harm contrary to Section 234 of the Penal Code.
The court subsequently ordered that the two be remanded at Industrial Area Remand Prison pending further proceedings.
Meanwhile, Kagecho remained in critical condition at the ICU of Kenyatta National Hospital, where doctors monitored him closely for more than two months.
Despite sustained medical efforts to save his life, he succumbed to the injuries on March 6, 2026.
Following his death, authorities confirmed that the case has now taken a new legal direction.
The charges against Brandon Githinji and Benard Lee Ngugi will now be upgraded to murder contrary to Section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code.
Detectives are currently finalizing the legal procedures required to formally present the upgraded charges before the court.
The two suspects remain in lawful custody at Industrial Area Remand Prison as investigations continue and prosecutors prepare to proceed with the murder case.
