16 directors of troubled Kihiu Mwiri land company charged with murder

Sixteen former and current directors of trouble-ridden Kihiu Mwiri land buying company in Murang’a County have been charged with the murder of four officials.

They were, however, not required to plead to the charges pending mental assessments, which are a prerequisite for a murder trial.

The suspects will return to court on September 21 after their medical reports are included in their case file.

They have been in custody for the past month after investigations linked them to the kidnappings and subsequent murders of 10 former directors in the past two years.

Judge Jessie Lessit deferred the plea and directed that the suspects be held in custody until their next appearance.

Last week, the prosecution sought more time to complete investigations.

State Counsel Catherine Mwaniki had asked for their continued detention, saying investigators were closing in on crucial leads that may materialise in the recovery of guns used to commit the string of murders.

The suspects were arrested in connection with the numerous deaths that occurred between March 25, 2014 and July 29 this year in Kiambu and Murang'a counties.

NUMEROUS DEATHS

“Preliminary investigations have linked the respondents with (the) murder and disappearances of James Macharia, Job Mwangi and Solomon Macharia who went missing on March 25, 2014 and have not been traced to date.

"Wilfred Gichana was shot dead on May 12, 2014, Charles Ngugi was shot dead on January 18, 2015, and Peter Kuria was shot dead on May 10, 2015 while Paul Muhuhi was shot dead on June 28 2015.

"Peter Kariuki went missing on July 1, 2015 while Zachary Chege and Josephat Kibe were both shot dead on July 29, 2015,” Ms Mwaniki told the court.

The suspects were, however, charged with the murder of Paul Mahihu Bernard in Majengo estate in Thika Town on June 28, 2015.

They were also accused of the murder of Zachary Chege Kirau on July 29, 2015 in Murang’a and of Peter Kimani Kuria on May 10, 2015.

The suspects were also accused of the murder of Josephat Kibe on July 29, 2015.

The offences were allegedly committed jointly with others not before the court.

RECOVER FIREARMS

“Investigators are in the process of receiving vital information likely to lead to the recovery of firearms used in the killings,” the prosecutor said.

She said investigators were also interested in gathering forensic data from the suspects’ mobile phones.

The prosecutor said police were also closing in on “more suspects” as crucial leads were being followed.

She said it was important that the suspects remain in custody so that they may not interfere with witnesses.

President Uhuru Kenyatta had ordered a speedy investigation to get to the bottom of the mystery killings.

Mr Joseph Waweru, Mr Henry Ngugi, Mr Harrison Kibande, Mr Bernard Murigi, Mr Josephat Macharia and Ms Mary Mburu, among others, were represented by lawyer Mbiu Kamua.

Lawyer Evans Ondieki also represented some of the suspects and complained that their rights had been violated by their continued “over-stay” in custody.

The suspects are held at Muthaiga Police Station in Nairobi.