This archive report was first published on 7 July 2020.
On July 7, 2020, a 42-year-old woman linked to the killing of her four children in Naivasha a week ago was arraigned before a Naivasha court. A psychiatrist report from Gilgil Mental Hospital revealed that Beatrice Mwende Kimotho had underlying mental health issues.
Prosecution counsel Alex Ndiema sought orders from the court to hold the accused for two more days due to the prevailing Covid-19 conditions. The High Court would not be seating for the next two days, and Ndiema wanted to charge the accused with four counts of murder after that.
The Naivasha Senior Resident Magistrate, Lyna Sarapai, directed that the accused be remanded in Naivasha Annex prison until Thursday when she would be charged with murder. The murdered minors were Melody Warigia (8yrs), Willy Macharia (6yrs), Samantha Njeri (4yrs), and Whitney Nyambura (2yrs).
During an emotional burial ceremony on Thursday last week, the family denied that the suspect was depressed or had any financial constraints. The family's denial came as the community struggled to come to terms with the tragic loss of four young lives.
Meanwhile, eleven members of the 'Confirm Group' in Nakuru were arraigned in the same court and charged with arson, planning to commit a felony, and being in possession of bhang. The youth were arrested by police in Nakuru following bloody gang clashes in Flamingo and Kivumbini three weeks ago.
