Kenya: How suspects in Muchai murder case were identified

Three suspects accused of killing the late Kabete MP George Muchai were identified through their voices and physical appearance, a trial court heard.

The MP, his driver and two bodyguards were shot dead on February 7 when the attackers intercepted his car along Kenyatta Avenue, Nairobi.

A financial adviser with an insurance firm and a couple who were victims of the robbery identified Raphael Kimani Gachii alias Kim, Mustafa Kimani Anyonyi alias Musti, Stephen Asitiva Lipapo alias Chokore as the ones who carjacked them on the fateful night of February 6, 2015 when Muchai was murdered.

The other suspects, who are also facing murder charges at the High Court are Erick Muyera Isabwa alias Chairman, Jane Wanjiru Kamau alias Chiro and Margaret Njeri Wachuri. They are accused of carrying out two robbery incidents the night before and after Muchai was killed.

Police alleged that on February 13, Isabwa and Njeri were found with a G3 rifle, seven bullets and one pistol.

Two prosecution witnesses, Gladys Waithera, an employee of Britam and Micheal Ngatia identified the three before Milimani Chief Magistrate Daniel Ogembo. Ms Waithera and Mr Ngatia identified the trio after a Criminal Investigations Directorate officer conducted three identification parades at Kamukunji Police Station on February 15.

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“I had identified one of the suspects the moment I had let him into my car when they carjacked us. He had a big gun while others were armed with pistols,” Waithera said.

She told the court what she and her sister Irene Muthoni went through in the hands of the robbers for over five hours after they were carjacked upon arrival at her gate at GreenBelt in Wangige, Kiambu County.

Ngatia said he was waiting for Njoki, a lecturer when four armed robbers carjacked him at around 9pm and forced him into the boot of his Nissan Sunny car until they abandoned him outside the gate of where they carjacked Waithera and her sister.