27-year-old man denies having affair with his 41-year-old aunt

Bernard Chege, survived a strange police shoot in which his aunt, Ms Janet Waiyaki, was killed in City Park last year. He testified at the Milimani Law Courts on Wednesday, February 06, 2019 during the hearing of the case.[George Njunge / Standard]

A man has denied having an affair with his aunt, who was shot dead by police at a Nairobi park.

Benard Chege, 27, denied having a romantic relationship with Janet Waiyaki, 41, but he admitted that they spent the evening together the day before she was killed.

Chege’s mother Faith Wangechi told the court that she fought the thought of her first born son having an incestuous relationship with his uncle’s wife.

“The thought of my son having an affair with his aunt was disgusting and I felt ashamed, just like any mother would. It was unusual for me to imagine my son being found naked inside a car with a person he calls aunt,” she said.

Mr Chege and Ms Wangechi were testifying in the trial of two police officers, William Chirchir and Godfrey Kirui, who have been charged with Waiyaki's murder.

The prosecution said the officers fired bullets into the car Waiyaki and Chege were relaxing in on May 20 last year at City Park. Waiyaki died while Chege was injured.

Chege said he was very close to his aunt but there was nothing unnatural about it. No family member questioned their relationship, he said.

“I had no affair with my aunt; we were just having a good time together. Our relationship was just that of an aunt and a nephew. Even my uncle was comfortable with our friendship.”

Chege said he met his aunt on the evening of May 19, 2018, and they decided to have a night out. He said they chewed miraa at a joint in Pangani until morning.

At 7am, Chege told the court, they went to Viewpoint place, along Naivasha Road, to take pictures.

“We spent some time taking pictures of the sunrise then left. The plan was to take her back home since she was tired, but she said she didn’t want to go home and that we should rest at City Park,” said Chege.

While at City Park, he said his aunt went to the back seat to sleep. He remained in the driver’s seat.

Shot at

Ms Janet Waiyaki who was shot dead by police officers at City Park in Nairobi on Sunday morning. [File, Standard]

Chege said he suddenly heard people banging on the car, then he saw guns pointing at them. He said he panicked and out of fear started the car. However, he did not go far as the car was shot at.

He denied that he and Waiyaki had spent the night in Nakuru. He said he was not aware that his aunt’s clothes - underwear, stockings and boots - were found in the car.

“It is not true that I started the car to flee out of guilt. When faced with danger, you either fight or flee. I chose to flee," he said. The hearing continuous tomorrow.