Widow of slain Kiru Boys principal pleads with court for her freedom

Jane Muthoni who is the prime suspect in the murder of her husband Solomon Mwangi. [Joseph Kipsang, Standard]

Jane Muthoni, the woman accused of killing her husband Solomon Mbuthi, who was a principal at Kiru Boys, appeared before the Nakuru High Court yesterday.

Ms Muthoni (pictured), a former Icaciri High School principal, pleaded with the court to release her, saying her four children were suffering without her.

Muthoni, together with another suspect Isaac Ng’ang’a alias Gikuyu, allegedly plotted the murder of her husband in 2016 at Karakuta Coffee Estate in Juja sub-county, Kiambu County.

While addressing the court, Muthoni said her relatives could not be entrusted with the care of her children.

She said she was their sole provider, and her detention had led them to suffer.

Suffering children

Muthoni said her children had dropped out of school. Her relatives, she said, had promised to do a fundraising to raise school fees for her children, but did not.

“My family promised the court that it will undertake a fundraiser to raise school fees for my children. But this was not done. My children are suffering. We are victims of my husband’s murder,” said Muthoni.

She added that despite the court ordering the Prisons Department to have her taken for a medical check-up, the prison authorities had refused to take her to hospital.

Poor health

The suspect said her health had been deteriorating and urged the court to consider her admission to hospital on bond.

Muthoni and Ng’ang’a have had their bond applications denied three times. Justice Joel Ngugi, who is hearing the case, has termed them a flight risk.

She made the first application in December 2016. In September 2017, another application was denied. In September 2018, she made an oral application to have her bond reviewed, and in a ruling delivered last month, she was denied the freedom she soughgt.

Yesterday, the court directed that the matter be heard on March 28 and 29. It also directed that Muthoni be taken for specialised treatment at a reproductive health facility.