A Chuka Court has ordered that nine suspects in the murder of Kamaindi Location chief Japhet Manjau undergo thorough mental assessment before plea taking on May 23, 2019.
The Chief Magistrate, John Njoroge directed that the nine, Gerald Njeru, Julius Mburu, Leah Muthoni, Sisiria Katora, John Nthiga, Julius Njeru, Jornard Njagi Kibiubi, Gediel Munyua and Tom Kinyua be held at Chuka police station until Thursday next week.
The suspects first appeared before the court on May 2, but the investigating officer sought 15 days to complete
investigations before they would be charged.
They are reported to have jointly with others not before the court murdered the administrator on April 30 and will on May 23 take plea against murder charges before the Chuka High Court.
The residents reportedly killed the chief after they were angered with his brother Gikware Mukengu for detaining goats belonging to a resident.
Unaware of the plan, the 52 year old chief was attacked with crude weapons by the irate mob at his brother’s home who cut his body into pieces before setting it ablaze. He had gone to solve the row.
The dispute is said to have started after remains of a resident Gitonga Kibiube were found at River Thuci, section where the Chief’s brother had enclosed prohibiting locals from fetching water immediately after the resident went missing in December last year.
The Chuka OCS, Joseph Kinyua was on May 1, killed at Ugweri market where he had gone to arrest one of the suspects in the chief’s murder.
The suspect allegedly attacked the chief and was shot to death by an officer who had accompanied the police boss.
The OCS was laid to rest at his Karatina home in Nyeri County.
By Kenneth Marangu
