Mogotio family alleges cover-up plot after tragic accident

Mogotio Police Station Traffic Commandant Joseph Macharia confirmed the Toyota Land Cruiser, KCC 769K, belonged to Susan Chesiyna.

Ms Chesiyna, who unsuccessfully contested the Baringo Woman Representative seat in the last General Election, was recently appointed to serve as a Kenya Power director.

Willy Kiprono, the boy’s father, said police had dragged their feet, noting that attempts to have the director or her driver apprehended and charged had failed.

“She came to console us few days to the burial and promised to follow up with insurance for the compensation. The local chief later delivered Sh50,000 and claimed he was sent by the director,” said Mr Kiprono.

The father of three said a pathologist at Nakuru County Mortuary informed him that their first born son had suffered fatal neck and head injuries.

“I requested for a copy of the postmortem report but a police officer from Mogotio who had accompanied my family went away with it,” he said.

After the burial, the father said attempts to follow up the incident with the police screeched to a halt after a traffic commandant allegedly threatened him with arrest for allowing the child to stray onto the road.

“I noticed the officer was serious and determined to ensure I was prosecuted. I left the station and I have never gone back but I want justice for my son,” said the father.

But reacting to the accusations, Chesiyna blamed the boy’s family, saying they did not instruct a lawyer to pursue compensation from the insurance company.

She said the family should pursue the matter with the insurance company and not her.

“If the accident had occurred and the vehicle was fully insured, then what is all this about? The family should be fast enough to activate their lawyer to pursue the matter,” she said.

But Mr Macharia, the base commandant, accused Chesiyna of ignoring summons to produce her driver to write a statement until she was threatened with arrest by Mogotio OCPS Patrick Nyangeresi.

“Initial investigations confirm the director had attempted to apply her financial might to interfere with the case. That was detected and I immediately took over the matter and we are now headed somewhere,” said Macharia.

The officer said he was working on a covering report before accelerating the file to DPP Keriako Tobiko’s office for direction.

Kiprono said a witnesses, including the Sunday school teacher who was with the boy, had not been called to record a statement.

 The boy’s mother Catherine Kipturu said they had suffered because of police laxity in apprehending the suspects involved.