Former MP’s son picked fights in pub, court told

By Wahome Thuku

Witnesses yesterday narrated how former assistant minister Patrick Muiruri’s son picked up a fight with patrons in a city pub before he was shot dead early last year.

One witness, Mark Sagini, said James Ng’ang’a Muiruri had walked up to him, poked his chest and asked him twice whether he was gay.

Minutes earlier, Ng’ang’a had exchanged insults with one Tish, a playmate, during a game of pool at Crooked-Q pub, a court heard.

Ng’ang’a was in the company of his brother and a friend called Jedidah. They had spent the night drinking.

Ms Elizabeth Wanjiku, a waiter, told the High Court that she witnessed the exchange between Ng’ang’a and Tish. She had asked Tish to play with Ng’ang’a as no other patron wanted to play for a beer.

Wanjiku said she heard Ng’ang’a call Tish ngui (Kikuyu for dog) and tell him that he was too poor to afford a beer.

"Tish responded that the only expensive item on Ng’ang’a was his shoes," she said.

She was testifying in the trial of police Inspector Dickson Munene and businessman Alex Chepkong’a who are charged with Ng’ang’a’s murder.

Ng’ang’a, a law lecturer in the UK, was shot dead at dawn near Sarit Centre shortly after security guards threw the warring youths out of the pub.

The case, which began in February last year, was declared a mistrial and began afresh on Wednesday before Judge Mohamed Warsame.

Sagini told court he had driven to the club at 5.30pm in the company of Chepkong’a and another man called Melvin. Chepkong’a sat with his friends elsewhere, but Sagini and Melvin were joined by a friend called Ken at another table.

Sagini said Ng’ang’a walked up to him and asked him if he was gay.

"I got so offended because I did not know him. I asked why he was insulting me," Sagini said.

A stranger

He added that Jedidah, who was also a stranger, attacked him during the confrontation.

Ng’ang’a punched him and Chepkong’a, who had come to his aid, before the security guards intervened and led the groups out.

Sagini said Chepkong’a left the premises and when he returned, told them how he had witnessed Inspector Munene trying to arrest Ng’ang’a.

Chepkong’a told them he had heard a loud bang and drove away for his own safety. He said Munene, whom he knew before as a police officer, did not enter the pub throughout the night.

Hearing was adjourned to July 26.