Relatives: Man in Ndia MP Stephen Ngare panga attack had mental condition

Robert Muchoki Kamau rushes with a panga towards the dias where Ndia MP Stephen Ngari was just getting into Ngando primary school in Ndia in Kirinyaga. (Photo: Munene Kamau)

Robert Muchoki, the man who attempted to slash Ndia MP Stephen Ngare at a school function had lived with a mental condition since 1996, his immediate family members have said.

His older brother David Kiberenge said he realised Muchoki was mentally sick when he joined him in Mombasa in 1996.

"When Muchoki joined me in Mombasa where I was working, I noticed a breakdown in his faculties and took him to Port Reitz Hospital where tests by a psychiatrist confirmed my fears," Mr Kiberenge said.

Kiberenge said his brother's condition worsened and he was eventually confined at the Port Reitz mental hospital in 1999.

He also recalled his struggle to fend for his sick brother until he could no longer manage and was forced to retire to their rural home in Ngando village.

Muchoki's paternal uncle, Daniel Ngari, 70, also said his nephew had a history of mental illness.

When The Standard team visited the home late yesterday, relatives produced Muchoki's treatment cards both for Mathari Hospital in Nairobi and Murang'a Level Five Hospital.

"As you can see, these are some of the drugs he has been taking since he was diagnosed in 1996, but generally he was not violent," Kiberenge said.

Meanwhile, Ndia MP Stephen Ngare has said local politics had nothing to do with the attack. 

Addressing a press conference at Parliament buildings, Mr Ngare said he had never met Muchoki.

"I had never seen the man before and I can't say there was a political motive because even when I was campaigning for the seat, I did not encounter any threats," Ngare said.

He said Muchoki, who struck his bodyguard and the Ngando Primary School head teacher, ran a liquor business in the area.

The MP suspects that Muchoki might have feared the lawmaker's activities could interfere with his business.

The MP was at the school to officiate the opening of two classrooms. He was accompanied by the area chief, Samuel Karunditu, and the head teacher Sammy Mwangi.

Following the attack, pupils did not report to school yesterday.