Suspect arrested in murder of Technical University of Kenya lecturer Edgar Mokua

A suspect allegedly linked to the murder of Technical University of Kenya (TUK) lecturer Edgar Mokua, who vanished after a night out in Lavington before his body was discovered near Woodcreek Academy, has been arrested.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said homicide detectives traced and arrested Richard Gikuhe Mbugua after forensic investigations linked him to a vehicle allegedly used to dump Mokua’s body.

The DCI said detectives established that a grey Toyota Ractis registration number KBZ 002R was used to transport and abandon Mokua’s body at the scene before speeding away.

The vehicle, which belongs to Mbugua, was recovered at Murera Farm in Juja and has since been detained as an exhibit as investigations into the murder continue.

Mbugua was arrested at Ruiru Blue Estate after detectives launched a manhunt based on forensic leads gathered during the investigation.

“The suspect is currently in custody undergoing processing pending arraignment, as investigations into the murder continue. Meanwhile, the impounded motor vehicle has been detained as an exhibit,” the DCI said.

Mokua was last seen on July 6, 2026, when he left his home at Princes Park in Lavington at around 4:20 pm and failed to return.

His family later reported him missing at Muthangari Police Station after efforts to trace his whereabouts proved unsuccessful.

Five days later, his body was found at the City Mortuary after it had been taken there by officers from Kiamumbi Police Station following its recovery near Woodcreek Academy.

The DCI said the complexity of the case prompted homicide detectives to take over investigations, leading to the discovery of events surrounding Mokua’s final hours.

According to detectives, Mokua spent several hours at Kettle Club in Lavington on the night he disappeared with two men and a woman before the group moved to Ibiza Club at Lavington Mall. His companions later left him at the club, where he was last seen alive.

Investigators are also probing possible links between Mokua’s death and a suspected drugging and robbery scheme targeting bar patrons in Nairobi and its environs.

The DCI said two men were drugged while drinking at entertainment spots in Lavington and Ruiru, losing a combined Sh800,000. CCTV footage and money trails linked the same woman to both incidents, with detectives saying she received Sh300,000 from Mokua’s phone and Sh500,000 from the Ruiru victim.

Police said Mokua was last seen leaving the Lavington club at around 10:00 pm on July 7 with the woman and another woman before they entered a vehicle and drove away.

Five days later, a businessman in Ruiru reported a similar incident after waking up without his phone, wallet and money. Investigators found that Sh500,000 had been transferred from his accounts to the same woman.

The DCI said the woman later sent part of the money to two other individuals, a man and another woman, who are believed to be her accomplices.

A postmortem examination on Mokua’s body returned an inconclusive cause of death, with toxicology tests expected to determine whether substances placed in his drink contributed to his death.