Former Gor Mahia and Harambee Stars midfielder Collins ‘Gattuso’ Okoth has pleaded not guilty to the murder of a 3-year-old baby in Lucky Summer Estate in Ruaraka Sub-County, Nairobi County.

Gattuso, alongside his co-accused Silvia Aoko pleaded not guilty to the charges while appearing before Justice Alexander Muteti at the Milimani Law Courts on Tuesday.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) said that the investigating officer who appeared in court refuted claims that he had declined to release a mobile phone and money belonging to Mr. Okoth during the time of his arrest.

"The I.O informed court that during the arrest, he recovered a Samsung mobile phone and a wallet which had two identification cards and NHIF card and all were recorded in an inventory signed by the suspect," said ODPP.

The investigating officer was directed to return the phone to Okoth and advised him to make a formal complaint with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).

The court had earlier ordered that the two be detained for 30 days pending mental assessments and further probe.

Okoth was accused of killing the infant on the night of April 22, 2024, when the child’s mother had allegedly stepped out of their rental house.

The court heard that police found the body behind the building where the deceased lived with her mother and her friend, and was half-naked with bruises on the neck.

The ODPP says that Okoth is being held at Industrial Area Remand Prison while his co-accused is at Lang'ata Women's Prison.