Man to be charged with murder of teacher, 3 children

A relative mourns the deaths of Mrs Agneta Imbaya and her three daughters at Wekelekha village in Bungoma County on April 17, 2014. Security teams in Bungoma County are on high alert following intelligence reports that a dreaded militia is regrouping. PHOTO/JARED NYATAYA

What you need to know:

  • This follows the result of a mental check ordered on him by a judge last week.
  • The man is the key suspect in the murder of Mrs Agnetta Imbaya and her daughters.
  • Mrs Imbaya’s murder kicked off a storm with the security personnel accusing the court of freeing a dangerous criminal.
  • ‘Rasto’ and four other suspects are believed to behind a series of robberies and the wave of insecurity in the region.

A man will Thursday be charged with the killing of a nursery school teacher and her three daughters in Bungoma.

This follows the result of a mental evaluation ordered on him by a judge last week.

The man is the key suspect in the murder of Mrs Agneta Imbaya and her daughters, who are said to have been witnesses to a robbery and rape in which he was earlier acquitted.

He allegedly murdered the family and disappeared but was arrested in a forest in Webuye.

Mrs Imbaya and her three daughters were buried at their ancestral home in Vihiga County.

Bungoma County Commissioner Maalim Mohammed, while addressing the press in his office, said the county security team was happy with the arrest of ‘Rasto’ and four other suspects who are believed to have been behind a series of robberies and the wave of insecurity in the region.

He said the accused was arrested alongside three others identified as George Simiyu Nabikoto (alias Saitoti), Edwin Wanjala and Peter Oriti.

FOREST HIDEOUT

Mr Mohammed said the accused man and his alleged accomplices were arrested at a hideout in a forest near the closed Pan Paper Mills factory in Webuye town.

“The suspect used to stay inside the Webuye forest and he has been breaking into people’s houses and stealing their belongings and most of the time he is seen around Webuye pubs and restaurants but escaped police traps several times,” he said.

Mr Mohammed said ‘Rasto’ and his accomplices were neighbours of the late Mrs Imbaya at Wekelekha village and security personnel suspect that after killing the woman and her three daughters, the accused all disappeared from the village.

He said intelligence reports revealed that from their hideout ‘Rasto’ and his accomplices continued carrying out their robbery-with-violence activities within Bungoma and its environs.

He said that after allegedly killing the woman and her daughters, ‘Rasto’ changed his name to David Alikoe to hide his identity.

Mr Mohammed said investigations have placed ‘Rasto’ at the centre of the murders after he threatened the deceased in court when she was testifying against him in another case.

DANGEROUS CRIMINAL

Mrs Imbaya’s murder kicked off a storm, with the security personnel, headed by Mr Mohammed, accusing the court of freeing a dangerous criminal.

The Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, Mrs Anne Amadi, initiated a probe into the circumstances of the release of ‘Rasto’ but the findings are yet to be made public.

Mr Mohammed said police were still tracking down two other suspects in the murder case and asked members of the public to continue volunteering information that would lead to their arrest.

He assured residents of Bungoma County that the government would treat all information given to police in confidence and revealed that all those who give vital information and leads to police would be rewarded and protected.