Mombasa woman, house help charged with conspiracy to commit murder

Doris Akinyi Nyaoro (left) and Rose Adhiambo Raminya at the Mombasa Law Courts yesterday where they were charged with conspiracy to kill Polycarp Okumu Ochola. [Photo: Kelvin Karani/Standard]

A woman and her maid were Monday charged with plotting to kill her wealthy husband.

James Odhiambo Wanyumba was allegedly contracted to kill Polycarp Okumu Ocholla. Mr Odhiambo was arrested at Rangwe in Homa Bay County on Friday and remanded for 10 days as detectives investigate his alleged role in the abortive murder.

Rose Adhiambo Raminya, the woman who allegedly hired him for the mission, was arrested 10 days ago, the same time her maid, Doris Akinyi, was arrested. And Monday, she was charged with conspiracy to commit murder at the Mombasa Law Courts.

Mr Ocholla has investments in the security sector and his estranged wife worked in one of his firms as a managing director before the alleged murder conspiracy was uncovered.

Ms Akinyi is being held at Shimo La Tewa Prison together with her one-year child.

Monday Rose and Doris, who were represented by lawyer Gikandi Ngibuini, denied the charges before Mombasa Chief Magistrate Grace Shitubi.

They denied accusations that on diverse dates between October 20 and 26 at Nyali in Kisauni, they conspired to kill Ocholla, who is locally known as Kamili. The accused opposed State lawyer Lydia Kagori's application to have them remanded in custody until Wednesday.

Mr Gikandi said the application by the State that his clients be remanded until tomorrow was violating their right to be given a bond as was provided for in the Constitution.

"Bail is a fundamental right. The courts must make sure such rights of accused persons are guarded with jealousy," he said.

He opposed an application by Ms Kigori, in which she wanted the application for bond to be argued before another court tomorrow where there is another pending ruling on bail.

Human Resource

Investigation officer Dominic Kiptum in a sworn affidavit told the court that Odhiambo (right) is believed to have been hired by Adhiambo to kill Polycarp.

Mr Kiptum told the court that he needed 10 days to investigate Odhiambo.

"I believe Odhiambo is a friend to Debra Joyce Otingo an employee of Guard Force Human Resource Manager. He conspired with others not before the court to kill polycap," said Kiptum.

During the proceedings, the magistrate also ordered that the account of Rose Adhiambo Raminya at Kenya Commercial Bankat Naivas in Nyali be investigated.

Meanwhile, the Ethics and Anti- Corruption Commission (EACC) has launched an investigation into corruption in Taita Taveta County. It is believed that some officials in the county might have played a major role in looting the county's fund.

EACC investigator Stephen Mbugua successfully applied before Mombasa court to investigate several accounts and Mobile phone numbers suspected to have been used in siphoning millions of shillings from the county.

Among those being investigated included the bank account of Jeremiah Wuganga, mobile phone of Chiti Hassan Tsuma and accounts of Dickson Mwadime.

Mr Mbugua said some irregular payments were made from the Taita Taveta County assembly account. The cash was allegedly paid to some people without following public procurement laws and regulations.

Shitubi ordered the investigation team to specify the period they are supposed to complete their probe.