This archive report was first published on 9 July 2021.
Published on July 9, 2021, a Lamu-based boat operator, Omar Lali, has raised concerns that his right to a fair hearing has been violated in the inquest probing the death of Tecra Muigai.
Lali, who is a suspect in the murder probe, claims he was denied an opportunity to hear the testimonies of witnesses who appeared before the court, including the deceased's mother.
He argued that the summons requiring him to present himself and his two brothers, Abdulhakim Lali and Kuswayi Lali, and his brother-in-law Ali Bakari, to testify was unfair and a violation of his right to a fair hearing.
Furthermore, Lali complained that the inquest ought to have been conducted in Lamu instead of Nairobi, citing the high cost of transport from Lamu to Nairobi throughout the proceedings.
He also expressed concerns that he cannot afford to pay a lawyer to defend him throughout the trial period, fearing that lack of a lawyer will ruin his chances of being found innocent.
High Court Judge James Makau dismissed Lali's appeal not to testify in the murder probe, and the matter will be mentioned on September 27, 2021, for further directions.
