The investigation into the murder of interior designer Geoffrey Mwathi Ngugi, often known as Jeff, has reached its initial phase, according to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), which announced this on Friday.
This is taking place as the investigation team gets ready to question DJ Fatxo, a person of interest in the case after the young interior designer died after falling while visiting Mugithi musician Lawrence Njuguna.
In the initial stage of the investigation, according to the DCI, the scene was examined forensically, the first group of witnesses in the case were interviewed, and CCTV footage showing the victim’s final moments was recovered.
Forensic experts have gathered important material for analysis, according to DCI director Mohamed Amin.
He added they are now progressing to the second phase of the investigations where several persons of interest in the case will be interrogated and appropriate recommendations made before being forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions for action.
“We are in the meantime requesting the public to be patient as we endeavor to establish the circumstances surrounding Jeff’s untimely death,” the investigative agency assured.
PROGRESS REPORT ON THE DEATH OF GEOFFREY MWATHI NGUGI.
The DCI Homicide detectives investigating the death of Geoffrey Mwathi Ngugi aka Jeff that occurred on February 22, 2023 has concluded its 1st phase of the investigation.
The process included the interviewing of pic.twitter.com/nAqH0mH2dC
— DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) March 17, 2023
The homicide team took over from the Kasarani police station officers under the directive of Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki.
On Friday, March 10, homicide sleuths visited the Redwood Apartments building in Kasarani estate, the home of Mugithi artist Lawrence Njuguna alias DJ Fatxo, where Mwathi allegedly fell from the 12th floor
A team of police from Kasarani police station who first responded to the scene where the body of Jeff was found are among those lined up for grilling.
The investigators have so far identified various gaps left in the initial probe and are keen to talking to their colleagues who first responded to the scene and subsequent probe. There are claims the initial team mishandled the probe hence the fresh investigation.
Also lined up for more grilling are three other people who were in the house when the incident happened on February 22 are also lined up for further grilling.
The singer has denied any wrongdoing in the incident. According to police records, 23-year-old Mwathi, alias Jeff, fatally fell from the 12th floor of the residential building.
Some are claiming suicide but his mother has rejected those claims.
Jeff had been in DJ Faxto’s house after spending the night partying with the popular Mugithi singer alongside his cousin and driver.
Officials say Jeff had met the singer hours earlier for an interior design job and that he had been promised a down payment to begin work that same morning.
After the business meeting had wrapped up, Jeff joined DJ Fatxo for drinks and merry-making as they hit more than three clubs in one night, eventually ending up at Redwood Apartments some minutes past 3 am.
A few minutes past 5 am, Jeff would later be captured on CCTV cameras falling from the singer’s house window to his grisly death.
The DJ says he is working with the police who are investigating the mysterious death.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki on Friday said he had instructed Amin to send a homicide team from the DCI headquarters to thoroughly investigate the incident and take the necessary action.
“I thank the DCI for his quick action on this matter. The homicide team from the DCI headquarters is dispassionate, and this will help resolve the claims of collusion at Kasarani Police Station where the matter was reported,” he said.
The DJ says he is among those who went to report to the police when he arrived home and found Jeff missing.
He said he had stepped out of the house and left Jeff with other guests who were there but when he came back he didn’t find him.
It was then he realized he had fallen off in a suspected suicide.
Before launching his music career, DJ Faxto was a disc jokey who played at small-time establishments around Ruiru before he got his big break at KU TV where he was the resident DJ.
He was also a regular at some of Ruiru’s most popular night spots. But it is while at KU TV that he met the now-defunct Sailors Gang, a Gengetone group which made him their official DJ.
His stint with Sailors Gang, was however short-lived and, during that time, the DJ’s singing bug bit him and a surprise music career would be born.
