Caroline Mwatha murder suspects out on bail

Judge Jessy Lessit has ordered four suspects in the murder of human rights activist Caroline Mwatha out on bail.

Betty Akinyi, her son Dale Richard Ramoya, Michael Onchiri, and Alexander Gitau were freed on Sh300,000 bail or Sh500,000 bond with two sureties of similar amount.

The suspects denied the charges.

“I will grant the accused bail but with caution. The accused shall not go to the New Njiru Clinic which is said to be the scene of crime. They shall also not interfere with witnesses,” the judge said.

Lessit said there were no compelling reasons to deny bail.

The suspects were arrested in connection with the mysterious death of the Dandora human rights activist whose body was found at Nairobi City Mortuary on February 12, 2019.

Mwatha was reported to have gone missing on February 6 and her disappearance reported at Buru Buru Police Station on February 8.

Police had impounded the pick-up truck believed to have delivered the body to the mortuary.

A statement from Directorate of Criminal Investigations in February said Mwatha may have died as a result of excessive bleeding during a botched abortion.

It stated that their investigation reveals she was five months pregnant and had been dating Alexander Gitau Gikonya who works at Isiolo County.

Alexander is said to have sent money to procure an abortion.

“Further exploitation revealed communications relating to an intended abortion of five-month-old pregnancy between said Caroline and Alexander,” read part of the statement.

Police confirmed the suspects are behind her death and subsequent movement of her body to the mortuary.