This archive report was first published on 25 October 2019.
On October 25, 2019, the High Court declined to allow Gilgil MP Martha Wangari to give evidence in the murder case against Peter Karanja, who is charged with killing Tob Cohen in July.
Martha Wangari had sought to make statements about Karanja, but defence lawyer Festus Mbati opposed her participation, stating that she was a stranger to the proceedings.
Wangari also sought to record a statement at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations regarding Karanja, but Mbati opposed this as well, arguing that she had no legal mandate to participate in the case.
Justice Daniel Ogembo struck out Wangari's affidavit, stating that she was a stranger in the proceedings.
Wangari denied an assertion by Karanja that he was her husband, stating that they had no marriage relationship and that the Gilgil home he claimed was his was actually hers.
Wangari's lawyer, George Kimani, distanced Karanja from the Gilgil house, stating that it was subject to several court cases on ownership.
Justice Ogembo will decide on Karanja's bail request on October 29.
