Father, four suspects deny killing son

Stephen Wangondu, 70, when he appeared at a Nyeri Court where he was charged with the murder of his son Daniel Mwangi 33, at Mweiga Village in Nyeri. [Kibata Kihu, Standard]

A prominent Nyeri businessman has been charged with the brutal murder of his son.

Stephen Wang’ondu,75, was charged alongside four other suspects over the killing of his 33-year-old son Daniel Mwangi on New Year's Day.

Other suspects who were charged were James Mahinda, Geoffrey Warutumo, Eddy Kariuki and Raphael Wachira.

The five were accused of jointly killing Mwangi on January 1, this year at Mwiyogo area in Nyeri County, charges they all denied.

The five appeared before Justice Florence Muchemi at Nyeri High Court after psychiatric tests carried out at Kenyatta National Hospital's Othaya Annex, showed that the five were mentally stable to face murder charges.

Charity Nyawira who was among those arrested, was released after the prosecution dropped the charges against her.

Nyawira, a wife to Mahinda (second accused) had been held after detectives found that her mobile phone had been used in planning to execute the gruesome murder of Mweiga businessman.

Prosecutor Duncan Ondimu prayed to have the five suspects held in separate prisons citing security concerns as raised by the investigating officer.

“The investigating officer had expressed security concerns during the period in which the suspects were in detention,” said the prosecutor.

Justice Muchemi ruled Wang’ondu be detained at King’ong’o Prison in Nyeri, his driver Mahinda be detained at Embu prison, Wachira will be detained in Kerugoya while Warutumo and Kariuki will be held at Mwea prison.