Koinange widow charged with two counts of murder

By Beauttah Omanga

Eddah Wanjiru, widow of former Cabinet minister Mbiyu Koinange, has been charged with two counts of murder.

Eddah Wanjiru, the widow of former Cabinet minister Mbiyu Koinange appeared before the Nakuru High Court on Tuesday where she was charged with murdering land rights activist Moses ole Mpoe and Parsaaiyia ole Kitu. She, however, pleaded not guilty. Photo: Boniface Thuku/Standard

On Tuesday, Mrs Koinange was charged that together with others not in court, she murdered Moses ole Mpoe on December 23, last year within Solai area of Rift Valley.

The second count stated that on the same date alongside others, she murdered Parsaaiyia ole Kitu.

The suspect, looking composed, denied the two counts.

Her lawyers Roy Mbaabu and Gordon Ogolla failed in their plea to apply for her release on bail.

Seeking bond

Justice Anyara Emukule told the two lawyers to follow procedure in seeking bond for their client by entering a formal application.

Ogolla had tried to ask the court to apply same measures used in other cases to set his client free on bail terms.

State Counsel Andrew Omutelema opposed the brief application.

"I don’t want to oppose or agree with the defence team but request that a formal application be made after which we can respond appropriately," said Omutelema.

Justice Emukule then directed the case be mentioned today for the review of the bond application. This means the suspect will be spending one more day at the Nakuru Police Station.

Two assailants, riding on a motorcycle, killed Mpoe and Parsaaiyia on the night of December 23 as they drove from Mau Narok to Nakuru.

Mrs Koinanage first appeared before the same court on Monday, but did not take plea as police successfully applied for an extra day to subject her to mandatory medical examination ahead of taking a murder charge plea.

On Tuesday, when she was brought before Justice Emukule, the State counsel said she was fit to take plea.