Court detains 5 suspects in murder of Tharaka Nithi police boss and Chief

By Lisper Kathure

Five suspects were Thursday arraigned at the Chuka Law Courts in connection with the murder of an Officer Commanding Station (OCS) and Chief in Tharaka Nithi County.

The accused; three men and two women, were arraigned before Senior Resident Magistrate Rachel Kahara, where the prosecution was allowed 15 days to detain the suspects pending completion of investigations.

The suspects; Gerald Njeru Kibau, Julius Mburu Kinanga, Leah Muthoni Ngige, Sisiria Katora Rochianga and Peter Karani were arrested on Tuesday night after the murder of Chief Japhet Majau Mukengu, who was lynched by angry residents.

Citizen TV has learnt that the residents were angered after the chief’s brother, Gikware Mukengu, detained some goats belonging to a resident, Gitonga Kibuibe, who went missing in December 2018 and his skeleton found in the nearby River Thuci three weeks ago.

On Wednesday, Chuka OCS Joseph Kinyua went to the area with another police officer in pursuit of a sixth suspect believed to be the ringleader of the group that killed the Chief.

They were, however, attacked by locals, with the OCS being hacked to death while the officer narrowly escaped the attack.

The prosecution is considering to charge the five suspects with the murder of the chief and the OCS.