The Machakos High Court has ordered the main suspect in the murder of the National Lands Commission (NLC) employee, Ms Jennifer Wambua, be remanded for 18 more days after he was declared unfit to stand trial.
Justice David Kemei, granted the request to Peter Mwangi Njenga alias Sankale, after his lawyer Dorine Mwau, prayed to have the suspect granted more time to enable him to undergo treatment for an undisclosed condition.
Njenga was supposed to take a plea on Wednesday, in connection with the murder of Ms Wambua, whose body was found dumped at Kerarapon in Ngong on March 12 this year.
According to a medical report presented before the court and signed by one Dr. Korir Tarus, the suspect who had been ordered to undergo a medical assessment last week before he could take a plea is said to be on medication and therefore not medically fit to stand trial.
The application to have the accused held for more days was not objected by the prosecution side who asked the court to have Njenga arraigned in court on June 22 to have the case mentioned.
Justice Kemei has similarly granted the accused the request to remain at the Muthaiga Police Station in Nairobi where he is currently being held and where conditions are said to be conducive for his recuperation.
The suspect whom police describe as a serial killer had first appeared before Kemei on May 17 this year but did not take a plea as he had not undergone mental assessment test.
The Court, therefore, ordered him to undergo a medical examination to determine his suitability to stand trial and also directed his file to be forwarded to Kajiado High Court where the suspect was supposed to appear for plea taking, Wednesday.
However, his case was moved back to Machakos High Court due to lack of a sitting Judge in Kajiado to hear it.
The charges facing the suspect states that between March 12 and13, 2021 at Veterinary Farm-Ebulbul in Kajiado North Sub- County in Kajiado, jointly with others not before the court, he murdered Jennifer Itumbi Wambua. The offense is contrary to Section 203 as read with Section 204 Chapter 63 of the penal code.
Ms Wambua went missing after reporting to her office at NLC on March 12, 2021 and her body was later found dumped in Ngong forest the following day.
Until her gruesome murder, the veteran journalist was working as the Deputy Director of Corporate Communication at the Land Commission.
By Samuel Maina
