Woman seeks damages over road rage shooting

A woman whose husband died from injuries suffered in a road rage shooting has sued a businessman for compensation.

Mrs Violet Rahedi is seeking Sh5 million compensation for medical and burial expenses.

But the amount is set to increase after the court assesses other losses suffered by the family of Mr Edward Rahedi.

However, the case could not proceed as scheduled on Tuesday because a lawyer appointed by the businessman, Mr Albert Kubai Mbogori, wants to stop representing him.

Lawyer Edwin Mukele told judge Hatari Waweru that he was in a difficult position because he has not been able to get instructions from Mr Mbogori since he took over the case from another lawyer in March this year.

Mrs Rahedi has sued Mr Mbogori, who was convicted of killing her husband in December 2007.

Mr Mbogori was charged with the murder of Mr Rahedi in February 2008.

On July 3, 2009, the High Court convicted him of manslaughter and sentenced him to 14 months in prison.

Mrs Rahedi subsequently filed the case seeking damages for loss of dependency and expectation of life.

Through her lawyer Fred Ojiambo, she accuses Mr Mbogori of negligently firing a bullet from a gun in his possession which seriously injured her husband.

Mr Rahedi was driving on Lang’ata Road in Nairobi on the evening of December 1 2007 when he was shot near the Bomas of Kenya causing him to suffer severe head injuries. He died after 56 days in hospital.

Vigorous life

The widow argues that her husband, who was 44 when he died, was in good health and lived a happy and vigorous life.

In response to Mrs Rahedi’s suit, Mr Mbogori argues that the injury and subsequent death of Mr Mbogori were as a result of an inevitable accident.

The hearing was adjourned to Friday next week to enable Mr Mukele inform Mr Mbogori of his intention to stop representing him.