Suspects in Marsabit chief’s murder case denied bail

From Right, Doyo Galgalo, Galmo Guyo Galgalo and Bokayo Dida Boru at the Meru law courts. [Olivia Murithi/Standard]

Four suspects charged with the murder of a Marsabit chief have been denied bail.

Doyo Galgalo, Galmo Guyo Galgalo, Bokayo Dida Boru and Somo Huqa are accused of killing Dirib Kombo chief George Godana on December 16, 2018 at Gargasa in Quilta Korma Location in Marsabit.

Judge Gikonyo agreed with the prosecution that due to the suspect’s political clout, their release could lead to interference with vulnerable witnesses who will be presented before court in camera on February 25, 2019. The witnesses are under the witness protection programme.

Court proceedings against the four suspects were terminated on January 25, 2019, following an application by the Director of Public Prosecutions after it came to light that the probation report, upon which bail was granted to the first three suspects, had been falsified.

However, the suspects were re-arrested outside the court, after the case was terminated, and driven to Nairobi where they appeared before Justice James Wakiaga on January 28, 2019.

The four suspects pleaded not guilty on Monday last week before High Court Judge Francis Gikonyo. And through their lawyers Roger Sagana and Kiget Kiprotich, they applied for bail which was denied yesterday.

The suspects have been in custody for three weeks since they were re-arrested.

Doyo, Galmo and Bokayo had previously pleaded not guilty to the charges before High Court Judge Said Chitembwe, and were released on a Sh300,000 cash bail on December 2, 2019 after the court determined they were not a flight risk.

Somo, who was arrested on January 7, 2019 after the three other suspects had taken plea, had yet to be processed for plea taking when the case was terminated.

Justice Anne Ongijo on January 23, 2019 ruled that Huqa was to remain in custody because he was yet to take plea.