Court bars Irene Jepchumba murder suspect from holiday travel

What you need to know:

  • Godfrey Kangogo is accused of killing Irene Jepchumba on July 6 at Kiamunyi in Rongai Sub-county.
  • Kangogo had pleaded with the court to review his bond terms and allow him to be with his family during the Christmas holidays.
  • The court turned down his request and ordered him to stay away from his home.

Mr Godfrey Kangogo is accused of killing Ms Irene Jepchumba on July 6 at Kiamunyi in Rongai Sub-county.

INTERFERENCE

Through his lawyer David Mongeri, Mr Kangogo had pleaded with the court to review his bond terms and allow him to be with his family during the Christmas holidays.

Justice Joel Ngugi, who had released him on a bond of Sh500,000 bond, with a surety of the same amount, turned down his request and ordered him to stay away from his home.

This was after the State convinced the court that he was capable of interfering with the witnesses.

The prosecution also accused him of intimidating the victim's family who live in the same area.

In the ruling on Thursday, Justice Ngugi said, "He should neither visit Rongai without approval from this court nor contact any witness or family, whether directly or indirectly, pending the trial."

HEARING

Ms Jepchumba’s family recovered her body from Molo river in Rongai.

Mr Kangogo claimed she fell off the cliff at Choka Falls while taking a selfie but the family contested this.

The hearing is yet kick off as the State and the accused's lawyers have been making applications for various orders.

Justice Ngugi said the case will be mentioned on January 15.