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Slain Kitui youth leader suspects are fit to stand trial

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

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