Four suspects charged with the death of Kitui Youth Leader, Benjamin Kinyali Muema on April 16, 2019 are fit to stand trial after undergoing medical assessment at Mathari Mental Hospital in Nairobi.
Appearing before Kitui Judge, Rose Ombata on Thursday, the four including Joshua Mutunga, a nurse at Kitui County Referral Hospital, Kitumbi Munyoki, Mutua Muasya and Koki Kimanzi however did not take plea and will do so next week on Wednesday.
The four are accused of killing of Muema, a youth leader popularly known as BMK whose partly burnt body was found in a thicket near Kavou stream in Kwa Vonza, 25km from Kitui town.
Kinyali was a Nationa l Youth Council official and hailed from Kitui Rural Constituency. He was also a businessman with interests in real estate and road construction.
Ms. Ombata further ordered that the suspects be remanded at Kitui GK Prison until June 26, 2019 when they will be formally charged.
The State Counsel, Bonny Okemwa told the court police had completed investigations into the killing and were ready to prosecute the matter conclusively.
Okemwa said police had earlier applied for time to probe the matter but lawyers, Japheth Mwalimu and Nzilu Nzioka, representing the suspects, argued that the matter had attracted a huge public interest and should be concluded as quickly as possible.
Earlier this week, the deceased’s wife, Salome Kathini Wambua was acquitted by the court terming her innocent as there was no sufficient evidence to link her with the murder after the conclusion of investigations.
Kathini, who was out on Sh. 500, 000 bond, was initially accused of killing her husband on 16th April, 2019 following an alleged love triangle.
By Yobesh Onwong’a
