DPP Tobiko directs that 7 suspects held over MP Muchai death be charged with murder

Muchai murder suspects from left Margaret Njeri, Jane Wanjiru, Stephen Asitiva, Mustafa Kimani, Raphael Kimani, Eric Muyera, and Simon Gichamba in Milimani court. [PHOTO: GEORGE NJUNGE/STANDARD]

NAIROBI: The Director of Public Prosecutions has ordered that seven suspects held over the death of former Kabete MP George Muchai and his three aides be charged with murder Friday.

The suspects are expected in court Friday to officially face charges.

Police had also recommended that the suspects be charged with robbery with violence.

DPP Keriako Tobiko said he had directed they be charged with murder.

“The DPP directs that the seven suspects being probed over the killing of former Kabete MP Muchai and his three aides be charged with murder,” he said.

The suspects appeared in court on Tuesday but did not take plea. The magistrate ordered they be produced in court Friday.

So far, it has emerged that three of the men are ex-convicts.

Profiles from police and prisons show Steven Astiva Lipopo, alias Chokore, Raphael Kimani Gachie, alias Kim Butcher and Eric Isabwa Munyeria, alias Chairman were in October 2010 sentenced to four years in jail over a robbery incident in Kabete area.

They were sentenced by then Kibera Senior Principal Magistrate Rose Nzioka. They were released after serving the sentence last year before recruiting their accomplice Mustafa Kimani Anyonyi, alias Musto, police investigations show.

The four alongside Margaret Njeri Wachiuri and Jane Wanjiru Kamau, alias Shiro are set to be charged with among other charges robbery with violence charges.

Another suspect Simon Gachamba is also being held after he was found with a mobile phone belonging to one of the victims.

The four men have told police they fired because they saw one of his bodyguards reach for a gun as they approached.

They claimed were on a nightlong robbery mission and took an interest in the MP’s car after they saw it parked on the roadside near Nyayo House.

The four were in a carjacked Toyota Spacio when they saw Muchai’s vehicle just after getting into the Uhuru Highway-Kenyatta Avenue.

Muchai, police constables Samuel Lekakeny Montata and Samuel Kimathi Kairingia and driver Stephen Ituu Wambugu were killed by a lone gunman at the Uhuru Highway-Kenyatta Avenue Roundabout  on February 7 at about 2.50 am.

Munyeria has confessed he was armed with a G3 rifle and did all the killings. On daytime, Munyeria, 28 posed as a tomato distributor at the Kangemi Open-air Market and is a father of one.

Kimani, 23, worked as a hawker in Kangemi area and lived in a one-roomed house  and did manial jobs.

Raphael Kimani, 35 was a butcher in Kangemi and was found with a Ceska pistol that was stolen from one of Muchai’s bodyguards. He stayed in Waruku area and is thorough in driving.

Jane Wanjiru Kamau, 25, is a mother of one and is married to Mustafa Kimani Anyonyi (Musto) while

Margaret Njeri Wachiuri is a 30-year-old mother of two and wife of Munyeria.

Meanwhile, police investigating the incident have summoned Labour Cabinet Secretary Kazungu Kambi, MPs Alice N’gan’ga (Thika), Francis Waititu (Juja) and Moses Kuria (Gatundu South) over their remarks regarding the death of Muchai.

Already Cotu Officials led by Francis Atwoli have sued the four for linking them to the murder.

A court has restrained the four from making defamatory statement against the Cotu officials.

The four were summoned by CID officers based at Nairobi Area.