Police in Kitui have sought court orders to detain the wife of slain Kitui Youth leader for seven days to enable them
conclude investigations.
Similarly, the detectives sought orders to compel telephony companies like Safaricom to release telephone communications between the slain youth leader, Benjamin Muema Kinyali to help unravel the cause his death.
The suspect’s wife, Salome Kathini Wambua, who looked shaken as she appeared before Kitui Principal Magistrate (PM), Johnstone Munguti on Thursday, was arrested on Wednesday as she reported the death of her husband at Itoleka Police Station.
Wycliffe Onsando, the investigating officer, asked the court to allow police detain the prime suspect at Itoleka Police
station pending her appearance in court on Thursday April 25, 2019 to answer to her charges.
“Your honour, preliminary investigations at the communication between the slain youth and the suspect indicate that they
had a fragile relationship. They accused each other of infidelity. The text messages between the two bordered on
bitterness as regards to their union,” said Onsando.
The investigating officer told the court that police are also looking for other seven accomplices who are still at large
to buttress the case as it starts in earnest on April 25, when Kathini will be presented to court for plea.
He said that the seven suspects will help unravel the gruesome death of the youth leader whose partly burnt body was found dumped in a thicket in Katulani on Wednesday.
Confirming the death on Thursday, Katulani Sub-County Police Commander, Eric Ng’etich said that the remains of Muema, who was an official of the National Youth Council in Kitui Rural Constituency, had burns on the chest and hands.
His body was discovered by passers-by in Kavou village who alerted police officers from Itoleka Police Station in Katulani Sub-County.
“Among the suspects who have been arrested include his wife, who works as an accountant at South Eastern Kenya University, for questioning to establish Kinyali’s last movements,” said Ng’etich.
According to preliminary investigations by detectives privy to the matter confirmed that Kinyali was last seen on
Tuesday evening drinking at Vanilla’s Bar in Kitui town with friends.
The friends later dropped him at his home at around 11 pm after a night of merry making at the local joint that he
frequented.
The police have since established that his killers are believed to have placed a used car tyre on his chest and
doused his body in petrol then set it ablaze.
Ng’etich said that Kinyali’s body was party burnt on his hands and chest where the tyre had been placed.
Mourning the departed youth leader, Kitui County National Youth Council Chairman, Aggrey Nzomo condemned the cold blooded murder saying the youth had lost a visionary leader.
Nzomo challenged detectives handling the matter to expedite investigations with a view to apprehending the killers.
Ng’etich said that police are zeroing into crucial leads to ensure justice for the family of the slain youth official.
By Yobesh Onwong’a
