Former Gor Mahia and Harambee Stars midfielder Collins ‘Gattuso’ Okoth has found himself at the center of a heart-wrenching legal battle.
Okoth, along with his co-accused, Sylvia Aoko, was recently arraigned at the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi, facing grave charges in connection with the murder of a young child.
On Tuesday, both suspects appeared before Justice Alexander Muteti, though they did not enter pleas.
It was confirmed by the prosecution that the suspects had undergone the necessary medical examinations, prompting Justice Muteti to order that mental assessment reports be submitted to the court.
The judge has scheduled the plea hearing for September 11, 2024, a date now awaited with bated breath by all parties involved.
“The Investigating officer (I.O) who appeared in court following court summons refuted claims he had declined to release a mobile phone and money belonging to Mr. Okoth, who featured for a number of Kenyan Premier League clubs as a footballer,” a statement from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detailed.
This clarification came amidst growing concerns and media speculation over the retention of Okoth’s personal belongings, which include a Samsung mobile phone and a wallet containing identification cards and an NHIF card—all recorded in an inventory signed at the time of his arrest.
The court has since ordered the release of Okoth’s Samsung phone, a small concession in a case that has otherwise placed immense pressure on the former football star.
Justice Muteti also directed the Investigating Officer to file a formal complaint with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), highlighting the seriousness with which this matter is being treated.
The background to this tragic case began to unfold in April 2024, when Okoth and Aoko were accused of the murder of three-year-old Pamela Atieno, also known as Scovian Maya.
The death of such a young child has elicited a strong emotional response from the community, further complicating the legal proceedings for Okoth, who has been detained at the Industrial Area Remand Prison. His co-accused, Sylvia Aoko Odhiambo, is being held at Lang’ata Women’s Prison.
Before these devastating allegations, Okoth was a revered figure in Kenyan football.
Having joined Gor Mahia in 2010 from Tusker FC, he later moved to AFC Leopards in 2018 and earned the nickname ‘Gattuso’ after the fierce Italian midfielder Gennaro Gattuso.
His transition from the pitch to punditry saw him last participating as a TV analyst during the Mashemeji Derby at the Nyayo National Stadium, just a day before the crime was reported.
