High Court Halts Arrest Warrants for US-Based Couple in Murder Conspiracy Case

By Natalia

The High Court in Naivasha has temporarily suspended warrants of arrest issued against a Kenyan couple living in the United States who are facing charges of conspiring to murder five members of their family, including the husband's mother.

Justice Cecilia Githua granted Amos Wanjiru and his wife, Alice Muya, temporary relief, just weeks after a lower court ordered that extradition proceedings be initiated to have them returned to Kenya to face the charges.

The couple is jointly accused alongside 73-year-old Francis Muya, who is facing five counts of conspiracy to murder his estranged wife, Rose Njeri Muya, and their children—Antony Mwaura, Martin Muya, Alex Muya and Oprah Muya.

According to the prosecution, Francis Muya allegedly conspired with others between March 1 and May 2, 2024, to hire hitmen for more than Ksh.3 million to eliminate the family members.

 Investigators claim the alleged plot was aimed at enabling the suspects to take control of a prime property in Molo Town.

Court documents state that the alleged scheme began on March 1, 2024, when Francis Muya and his daughter reportedly met two suspected hitmen at a hotel in Nakuru. The prosecution alleges they agreed on a payment of Ksh.3.1 million, with part of the funds allegedly facilitated before Alice Muya returned to the United States.

Representing the couple, lawyer Edwin Njagi moved to the High Court under a certificate of urgency, arguing that the magistrate's court had improperly issued warrants of arrest before his clients had been served with court summonses.

Njagi also told the court that the lower court had granted the prosecution permission to begin extradition proceedings without first giving the couple an opportunity to respond to the allegations.

During the proceedings, lawyer Mbugua Macharia, representing the alleged victims, applied to be enjoined in the appeal, citing a related matter that is still pending before the lower court.

In her ruling, Justice Githua directed the victims to file their application within seven days and ordered that the suspension of the arrest warrants remain in force for 21 days.

The matter is scheduled for hearing on July 29, 2026.