By ISAIAH LUCHELI
The inquest into the death of university student Mercy Keino adjourned after the prosecution declined to listen to testimonies from the driver and bodyguard of Juja MP William Kabogo.
Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Moses O’mirera told the court he could not allow the legislator’s driver David Kuria and bodyguard Emmanuel Mucharu to testify, as witnesses in the events around the death of the student had adversely mentioned them.
However, Mr O’mirera said he would clear with the remaining witnesses before embarking on individuals, who had been adversely mentioned in connection with Mercy’s death.
“Failing to listen to the witnesses adversely mentioned at this stage is done in the interest of the parties. This will give them an opportunity to retract what would have been said against them and may have in a way or another implicated them,” he said.
But lawyer Cliff Ombeta urged the prosecution to call more credible witnesses who would shed light on circumstances around the incident. “I would like to urge the prosecution to call more credible witnesses not those who give this court details that bear no useful information to this inquest and also the number of witnesses should be increased from the two who testify daily,” he said.
The MP’s bodyguard and driver are among the last people who could explain the circumstances around the last hours of Mercy before her body was recovered along Waiyaki Way, Nairobi.
Other people mentioned adversely in the inquest include Mr Kabogo, and a motorist who was driving a black Mercedes Benz. A witness told the court she saw someone’s legs underneath the car along Waiyaki Way.
Hurled a glass
Deputy chef of Wasini Luxury Apartments Leonard Thairu told the court that Mercy was drunk when he met her at the reception.
He said the student broke bottles and hurled a glass at the reception prompting the receptionist to call a security guard to remove her from the terrace, but a woman claiming to be Mercy’s aunty assured them that she would contain her.
Mr Thairu told the court he left early and only came to learn of Mercy’s death two days later when he saw her picture in the newspaper.
