Female civil servant in court over mysterious death of Kimathi University student

NYERI COUNTY: A 45-year-old civil servant was Wednesday arraigned in court in connection to the mysterious death of a student the Nyeri based Dedan Kimathi University of Technology.

The charge was, however, not read out to Esther Njoki as the investigating officer requested for more time to complete his investigation.

In his sworn affidavit, Peter Orwa, the investigating officer, requested that Ms Njoki be detained at the Nyeri Police Station for a period of a week until he was done investigatings the case.

"I need time to conduct further investigations and collect specimen from the deceased's body for analysis. I also have several witnesses who are yet to record their statements," said Orwa.

Ms Njoki, who was arrested on August 19, 2014, is alleged to have been the last person seen with Dennis Njenga before his untimely death which was caused by fire.

Njenga, a fourth year student, is said to have been drinking at a local club with the accused person before they returned to his house in Kamakwa estate, Nyeri, at around 4am.

A few minutes after their arrival, a fire suddenly started in the rental room under unclear circumstances.

The deceased sustained third degree burns from the inferno that gutted down the bed-sitter house, consuming all his belongings including books and bedding.

He was rushed to Outspan Hospital for treatment but succumbed to the injuries a few hours later.

It is believed that the accused person vanished when the deceased was being rescued from the inferno.

Although Police are yet to investigate the cause of the fire, the landlady of the plot, Teresa Gikungu, has already alluded to the possibility of an electric fault.

"An electric post near the houses has been releasing sparks for some time now. I have reported the matter severally to the Kenya Power and Lighting Company but nothing has been done," said Gikungu.

She lamented the apparent ineptitude of Nyeri fire brigade when answering fire distress calls.

"The fire brigade came late and with inadequate water. A lot of things would have been salvaged had they come fully prepared," she said.