This archive report was first published on 11 October 2019.
Naivasha Chief Magistrate Joseph Karanja has been presented with a new case involving Peter Njoroge Karanja, the suspect in the murder of Dutch tycoon Tob Cohen. Karanja's estranged wife, Gilgil MP Martha Wangari, has moved to court seeking to have him restrained from accessing their two children.
Wangari, through her lawyer George Kimani, has also asked the court to grant her permission to access their rural home in Gilgil for purposes of inspection and the evaluation of its suitability for occupancy.
She cited mental anguish, possible ridicule, stress, stigma, and accompanying danger on the part of the children as some of the reasons why she wants Karanja barred from interacting with the minors.
Wangari also accused Karanja of absconding his fatherly duties of providing for the children, stating that she has all along housed, fed, educated, and brought up the children.
Martha Wangari's application comes after the couple filed for divorce last month, having parted ways over a year ago after a five-year union in which Karanja allegedly abused her physically and emotionally.
Wangari's petition reads, 'This is meant to avoid prejudice, mental anguish, ridicule, and accompanying dangers and stigma on the part of the minors arising from the criminal allegations facing Karanja. The respondent (Karanja) as per media reports has been confirmed to be a man in relationships with many women and a man of bad social standing.'
On the other hand, Karanja's lawyer Irungu Mburu argued that the arrest and arraignment of his client could not be a basis to deny him natural rights to his family. Mburu said Karanja was innocent until proven guilty and had the right to a fair trial.
The matter is set to be determined on November 6.
