George Thuo had dispute with wife before death, court told

Former Juja MP George Thuo had a dispute with his wife, Judy, shortly before he met his death through alleged poisoning, a trial court heard on Tuesday.

Mr Thuo died on the night of November 17, 2013, after consuming a highly toxic chemical believed to have been mixed with his drink at a bar in Thika Town.

Six suspects, including Mr Thuo's bosom friends, are on trial for the murder.

The court heard that four days before his death, Mr Thuo had arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) from India but was not received by his wife, who was not at their home. This prompted a bitter argument between the two.

JOVIAL PERSON

Ms Thuo, in her testimony, explained that she had been arrested in Naivasha for speeding and could not be at the airport to receive her husband.

The widow recounted to the court her last moments with her husband, whom she described as “a jovial person who enjoyed life”.

“He was unhappy when he found I was not at home, but we were fine after that,” Ms Thuo said.

On the day of Mr Thuo's death, she said, her husband had left her in the house to go watch a Formula One race on television at Porkies bar in Thika Town.

He, however, called shortly after to tell her that he was feeling hot and was going to his car to remove his vest.

AT WEDDING TOGETHER

Mrs Thuo recalled that a day before her husband died they had driven together to Kitengela, were they both had a meal “shared from one plate” and drinks before driving back home.

They had also attended a wedding together a day before his death.

Asked whether her husband had any medical conditions, Ms Thuo said he had been in perfect health according to her assessment.

Defence lawyer Cliff Ombeta took the witness to task over her reportedly souring relationship with her husband before he died.

The widow denied claims that a day to his death Mr Thuo had been angry with her and had even ordered her not to visit the offices of a company they jointly owned.

SURRENDER A CAR

She also denied claims that Mr Thuo had asked her to surrender a car he had bought her. She added that she was not aware of an SMS sent to her to that effect and copied to their family friends.

But she confirmed that police are still holding both their phones, which were seized during investigations.

Lawyer Ombeta asked Ms Thuo if she had been ordered to stay out of the family business, saying he had “instructed that he had told you that as co-director, come Monday, you should not appear in the office and that you should not touch any of his cars.”

The widow denied suggestions that she called a Catholic cleric “to reconcile them”.

'FUNNY ERRANDS'

“We had a normal argument on Wednesday... he was not happy because I told him I would be at home at 5.30pm but (arrived) later at around 6.30pm. I found him at home, but we were fine after that,” Ms Thuo said.

She denied that her husband had asked her to return the car he had bought her “as she was running funny errands outside.”

Ms Thuo told the court that she was not aware whether her husband took some food at home when they returned from Kitengela before he left for Porkies bar on the fateful day.

The food had been prepared by a maid and was served to the children in the dining room.

The hearing continues.