Nakuru murder suspect fails to undergo mental exam

A 30-year-old boda boda operator accused of killing a prison warder is yet to undergo a mental assessment test, Nakuru High Court heard on Monday.

Peter Omariba Oteki is supposed to undergo the examination before taking his plea on murder charges he is facing, but because of the ongoing doctors' strike he is yet to be tested.

Justice Janet Mulwa yesterday allowed more time for Mr Oteki to undergo the examination.

Prosecutors said operations at Nakuru Level Five Hospital, where the accused was to undergo the test, have been grounded by the doctor’s strike.

The accused is facing charges of killing Sergeant James Stephen Obuya, a prison officer attached to the Kilgoris GK Prison.

He allegedly committed the offence on the evening of January 3 at the Gicheha Bridge in Rongai, Nakuru County.

Prosecutors say the suspect was hired by the officer to take him from Salgaa trading centre to Rongai, but the boda boda operator turned on him and strangled him to death jointly with others still at large.

The court was told that the accused later presented himself at the Rongai Police Station and reported that he had been attacked by his client but managed to escape the attack, leaving the officer unconscious at the scene.

But police found the sergeant dead upon arrival at the scene.

Justice Mulwa further directed that a lawyer be appointed to represent the accused in court.

He will be remanded at the Nakuru GK Prison for two weeks pending the medical examination.

The case is slated for mention on February 6, when he will be expected to take plea.