Ex-MP Mathew Lempurkel charged with plotting to murder police officer

Former Laikipia North MP Mathew Lempurkel faces fresh charges of conspiring to murder a senior police officer.

The former ODM legislator on Thursday appeared in a Nanyuki court to answer the charges.

The charges stated that on March 7, 2018 at Nanyuki Police Station, with others not before court, he conspired to murder Laikipia County Police Commander Simon Kipkeu.

He denied the charges and was released on a bond of Sh200,000 and a surety or an alternative cash bail of Sh50,000.

The former legislator, through his lawyer William Bwonwonga, asked Principal Magistrate Gichimu Waititu to release his phone, which had been confiscated by police.

FORENSIC ALALYSIS

But Ms Caroline Muriu for the prosecution told the court that the phone was taken to Nairobi for forensic analysis by experts and that information contained in the phone was part of the evidence that would be used in the case.

Mr Lempurkel was arrested on March 14 but was later released on a Sh50,000 police cash bail. He was instructed to appear in court after two days.

He, however, did not appear in court until Thursday when he pleaded not guilty to the charges.

INCITEMENT

The case will be mentioned on April 26 with its hearing set for April 26.  

Mr Lempurkel has several cases relating to incitement, incitement and assault in Nanyuki and Nairobi courts.

Last month, Nanyuki Chief Magistrate Lucy Mutai convicted him on inciting his supporters to burn down Rumuruti Police Station on July 31, 2016 as he demanded the release of a suspect held in police cells

He will be sentenced on May 10. Should he be found guilty of committing the offences, the former legislator could face a jail term of up to five years.