Ex-Harambee Stars player Collins ‘Gattuso’ Okoth seeks bail in 2024 murder case of three-year-old girl
Gattuso’s lawyer, Geoffrey Omenke, argued that concerns by investigating officer Gilbert Kiprotich about possible witness interference had been resolved since key witnesses had already testified.
Former Harambee Stars footballer Collins Okoth, popularly known as Gattuso, has asked the High Court to release him on bail after spending more than a year in custody over the 2024 murder of a three-year-old girl.
Gatuso is facing charges alongside Sylvia Aoko for the killing of three-year-old Pamela Atieno, also known as Scovian Maya.
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Appearing before High Court judge Alexander Muteti on Tuesday, the two urged the court to grant them bail, arguing through their lawyers that it was their constitutional right.
Gattuso’s lawyer, Geoffrey Omenke, said concerns raised earlier by investigating officer Gilbert Kiprotich had been addressed, as key witnesses had already testified. Kiprotich had opposed bail, claiming the accused could interfere with crucial witnesses.
Omenke argued that the investigator’s claims were unsubstantiated and that the court had no compelling reason to deny bail.
“No cogent evidence had been tabled why bond or bail should not be granted. We urge the court to strike a balance and grant bail to the accused,” Omenke said.
The prosecution opposed the application, claiming Gattuso had no fixed place of abode and was a flight risk.
The DPP alleged that the ex-football star had been living in a rented house in Lucky Summer and had planned to relocate to an unknown location before his arrest.
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Omenke dismissed the claims, saying there was no evidence to support them and noting that Gattuso was a well-known football pundit and former Gor Mahia player.
Sylvia also asked the court to grant her bail, pledging to comply with any conditions set and noting she had cooperated with authorities since her arrest.
However, prosecutor Njoroge argued she was a flight risk, saying she had no fixed residence or known business in the city.
“In fact, she had relocated from a house where she lived with the mother of the victim to a bureau in Kasarani where she pretended to be interested in a househelp job,” Njoroge said.
The state urged the court to reject the bail request or, if granted, to impose strict conditions.
Justice Muteti will deliver his ruling on the bail application on September 17.
The two have denied killing the child between the night of April 21 and the morning of April 22, 2024, at Kwetu Apartments in Sinai, Lucky Summer estate, Nairobi. Gattuso is being held at the Industrial Area Remand Prison, while Sylvia is at Lang’ata Women’s Prison.
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