Kiambu lawyer was uneasy days before death, his father tells court

Samuel Muhiu the father of the late lawyer Paul Magu speaks with Pastor Ann Wanyoro outside Kiambu law courts after the hearing was adjourned. The pastor has been charged that on diverse dates between November 23 to 26 in 2014 at Mokongeni in Thika, Kiambu County she helped Paul Magu to kill himself. She has also been charged with having a hand in the deaths of the lawyer’s wife Lydia Magu and their children Allen, 9, Ryan, 8 and Tiffany, 6. PHOTO: KAMAU MAICHUHIE.

KENYA: Lawyer Paul Magu, who died under mysterious circumstances alongside his wife and three children, was uneasy in his last days, a Kiambu court heard yesterday.

This emerged during the hearing of a case in which a female cleric is accused of having a hand in the 2014 deaths in Mokongeni, Thika.

Pastor Ann Wanyoro has been charged that on diverse dates between November 23 and 26 in 2014 in Mokongeni, Kiambu County, she helped Paul Magu to kill himself.

The pastor has also been charged with having a hand in the deaths of Mr Magu's wife Lydia and their children Allen, 9, Ryan, 8, and Tiffany, 6.

Samuel Muhiu, the father of the slain lawyer, who was the first to take to the witness stand, told the court how Magu came home alone on November 25, 2014, at around 4pm using an old saloon car, which was unusual of him since he used to drive posh cars.

Upon his arrival, the lawyer informed his father he was feeling weak since he had not eaten for the last two days.

Mr Muhiu said his son, who looked very uneasy, later followed him to the farm where he paced up and down.

"I asked him if all was well and he said he was fine. We went back to the house at 6pm and I prepared supper for him but he declined to eat," he said.

According to Muhiu, the slain lawyer left home for a harambee at around 7pm and came back at 9pm with mud all over the body.

"I asked him what had happened and he said they had been attacked by thugs on their way back home," he said.

The father said he retired to bed in his room but the lawyer kept talking to himself and screaming throughout the night.

Early the following morning, the court heard, Magu came out of his room wearing her mother's skirt and blouse, which his father ordered him to remove and wear trousers and a shirt. He also refused to have breakfast.

The lawyer later left without informing anyone where he was going. The family looked for him without success only to be informed the following day that he had been found dead. The case, which is being heard by Principal Magistrate Justus Kituku, was adjourned to today when the prosecution will call more witnesses.