Court gives telcos 21 days to submit call, SMS records in missing Mlolongo businessman's case

Telco giants Safaricom and Airtel have been given 21 days to furnish the prosecution with call data, SMS and voice records and key documents in the ongoing hearing on the disappearance of Mlolongo businessman Jimmy Mutava.

Giving the order at the Machakos High Court on Thursday, Justice Noel Inziani suspended the cross-examination of three witnesses to allow the furnishing and analysing of all details, including forensic analysis of CCTV footage presented before the court.

Former Mlolongo OCS Peter Mugambi is among the three who are lined up to take the stand in the case.

Mutava disappeared on July 27, 2026 during a meeting he had with OCS Mugambi. He was reportedly whisked away by armed men.

The case will be mentioned on November 19th to confirm the progress of investigations.

“The court will take out the cross-examination of the witnesses for today to allow the investigators the time sought to complete the investigations,” stated Justice Inziani.

“Number four, parties directly connected to this case or any other person are warned to desist from commenting on the matter and more so mentioning the victim who is the second applicant unless such information is limited in assisting to trace the victim.”

CCTV footage that captured Mutava's last movements raised questions about the events leading to his alleged abduction, including his meeting with the Mlolongo OCS.

At 6:30 p.m., the  footage shows Mutava arriving at an entertainment joint in Mlolongo after being dropped off by a white vehicle. Moments later, OCS Mugambi is seen walking into the premises, followed shortly by Mutava.

By 7:04 p.m., another man joins the two as they continue their meeting.

At around 8:15 p.m., Mutava is seen seated while using two mobile phones. Across the entertainment joint, another man wearing a hood remains standing throughout, talking on his phone as he closely watches the scene.

Five minutes later, at 8:20 p.m., Mutava is captured walking outside the gate while still speaking on the phone.

CCTV footage shows the OCS remaining seated inside the premises, talking on his phone alongside a woman.

According to witnesses, it was at this point that Mutava was allegedly abducted.

The footage appears to contradict an account reportedly given by the officer to the family that he had stepped away to use the washroom when Mutava disappeared.

The CCTV footage further shows the officer remaining at the table after the alleged abduction, continuing with his drink as several men approach and briefly speak to him before leaving.

At about 9:23 p.m., nearly an hour after Mutava was allegedly forced into a vehicle, the officer is seen leaving the entertainment joint accompanied by the woman.

The family says the footage, coupled with phone records and the sequence of events, raises serious questions about who orchestrated Mutava's disappearance and why those present did not intervene.