This archive report was first published on 16 July 2019.
July 16, 2019
Five people accused of killing lawyer Willie Kimani, his client boda boda rider Josephat Mwenda, and taxi driver Joseph Muiruri are facing trial. The case took a new turn when one of the accused, Peter Ngugi Kamau, informed the court that he no longer wanted to be represented by his lawyer, Neilias Kinyori.
Ngugi Kamau claimed he could not afford to hire a new lawyer and requested the government's assistance. Kinyori, who has been representing the suspect pro bono, opposed the move, stating that it was against the law.
Meanwhile, lawyer Cliff Ombeta, who represents three police officers in the case, was absent from court due to illness. The prosecutor alleged that Ombeta's absence was part of a plan to scuttle the case, which has reached a crucial stage.
The trial has been ongoing since 2016, with 38 witnesses testifying so far. The case is set to be mentioned on July 24, with the hearing scheduled for October 7.
On June 23, 2016, Kimani was kidnapped after leaving the Mavoko Law Courts. His body, along with those of Mwenda and Muiruri, was recovered a week later from River Athi, near Ol Donyo Sabuk. The suspects, including police officers Fredrick Leliman, Stephen Cheburet, Sylvia Wanjiku, and Leonard Maina Mwangi, have denied the murder charges.
