Ivy Wangeci murder suspect Naftali Kinuthia pleads not guilty

 Ivy Wangeci murder suspect Naftali Kinuthia when he first appeared before Eldoret High Court on April 15.[File, Standard]

The main suspect behind the murder of a medical student at Moi University has pleaded not guilty to murder charges in an Eldoret Court.

Naftali Njahi Kinuthia, 29, appeared before Eldoret Senior Resident Magistrate Douglas Moseti on Tuesday after the prosecution confirmed that he was fit for trial.

Kinuthia was locked up on April 15 for 14 days after Senior Assistant State Director of Public Prosecution Fredah Mwanza requested the court to allow police more time to complete investigations.

She also told the court the suspect needed time to make a statement first.

"Your honour, we request this honourable court to allow the suspect to be held at Naiberi Police Station," said Ms Mwanza.

Kinuthia is alleged to have hacked to death Ivy Wangeci, a sixth-year medical student at Moi University School of Medicine, on April 9, outside Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital.

Consequently, an irate mob descended on him on the said day but was rescued by police. He reportedly told investigators that the late Ms Wangeci, who was his childhood friend, had rejected his advances.

The broad-daylight killing sparked off a conversation countrywide over increasing cases where women are being attacked and some killed by lovers.

During the burial at her family home in Mahiga, Nyeri County on April 18, speakers called on young people to learn how to handle rejection.