Court rejects Mbiyu Koinange widow plea in activist’s murder case

By Patrick Kibet

Kenya: The state has fought off attempts by the wife of the late former powerful Cabinet Minister Mbiyu Koinange to have the murder charges facing her and six others terminated.

Eddah Wanjiru Koinange, through her lawyer Paul Muite, wanted the prosecution to close the murder case after they applied for the matter to be heard another day.

Wanjiru is charged with David Mbiyu Koinange (her stepson), Nicholas Ng’etich, Johnstone Sigei, Stephen Mwanga, Sanaga Mbukoi and Kiragu Macharia with the murder of a Maasai land activist Moses Ole Mpoe and Parsaaiyia ole Kitu on December 3, 2010, at Soilo junction on the Nakuru-Eldoret Highway

The prosecution had sought to adjourn the matter on grounds that lead counsel Andrew Omutelema was away on official duties.

Testament

Two witnesses however testified after Justice Hellen Omondi directed the prosecution to proceed with the matter since the case had been fixed for three days.

Ntimama Ole Soyian told the court he was with Joseph ole Mpoe, a survivor of the shooting incident, at the Provincial General Hospital after the incident on December 3, 2010.

Ntimama told the court Ole Mpoe was in a critical condition with injuries to his face and shoulder and identified Ng’etich to have been the one who attacked them at Soilo junction.

“When we visited Mpoe at the hospital we found him heavily bandaged. He told me Ng’etich attacked them,” Ntimama recalled.

However, Muite questioned Ntimama’s testimony saying Mpoe was unconscious when he was taken to hospital.

Another witness Linet Karei told the court Moses had earlier expressed fears over his life but did not mention who was behind the threats.

The case continues on July 25.