This archive report was first published on 18 December 2019.
On Monday, December 16, 2019, three suspects in the murder of Machakos Catholic priest Michael Maingi Kyengo pleaded not guilty to the murder charge before Embu High Court Judge, Justice Florence Muchemi.
Michael Muthini, Kavivya Mwangangi, and Solomon Mutava denied killing Fr. Michael Maingi Kyengo on the night of October 8 and 9, 2019, at Makima area in Mbeere South, Embu County.
Lawyers Guantai Kirimi and Alphonse Mbindyo, representing Muthini and Mwangangi and Mutava respectively, stated that their clients were not ready for plea taking as they had not received all the evidence the prosecution intended to use in court.
However, Justice Muchemi directed the three to take plea even without some documents the prosecution intended to rely on, including a report from the government chemist, bank statement of the deceased, and a report of sim cards from phones recovered from the suspects.
The matter was adjourned to January 28, 2020, to allow the prosecution to furnish the defence with complete committal bundles.
Lawyer Kirimi alleged that his clients were tortured by police officers while in custody and requested for their mental reexamination by a psychiatrist.
Justice Muchemi obliged and directed Muthini and Mwangangi to be escorted to Embu Level Five Hospital for medical examination over the alleged assault and mental reexamination.
The 43-year-old priest disappeared from his parent's Tala home in Matungulu, Machakos County on October 5, 2019, and his body was recovered on October 16, 2019, in a shallow grave in Mbeere South, Embu County.
Muthini, who was arrested in Makindu town on October 11, 2019, led the police to a rented house belonging to him where they recovered a knife from a pit latrine.
Mutava is out on a Sh 300,000 bond while Muthini and Mwangangi are still in custody after failing to meet bail terms.
