Kiambu Judge disqualifies herself from hearing lawyer Assa Nyakundi’s case

Kiambu High Court Judge Christine Meoli on Wednesday disqualified herself from hearing a case where city lawyer Assa Nyakundi is suspected of shooting and killing his son.

While refferring the case to Milimani law court, Justice Meoli cited conflict on interest since the accused was a classmate.

The case has been placed before Justice Ngenye Macharia for mention and further directions.

Nyakundi had ealier been charged with manslaughter but the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) applied for the charge to be dropped and substituted with murder charges.

The city lawyer has however challenged the the DPP’s decision to prefer murder charges against him.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss George Kinoti last month interdicted two police officers assigned to probe the killing.

According to Kinoti, the two senior officers alongside two prosecutors allegedly engaged in a “cover up” in the case.

Lawyer Nyakundi had earlier told police he was trying to holster his firearm while in the car when he accidentally fired, shooting his son in the chest.

Nyakundi said that he shot his 29-year-old son Joseph Bogonko Nyakundi on March 17, 2019 near his house.

An autopsy report conducted on the body of Joseph Nyakundi however indicated that the deceased could have been shot from outside the vehicle and not inside as first reported.

“The angle of shooting according to the projection could be ninety degrees, suggesting there was a confrontation,” the report revealed.

Nyakundi has since been charged with manslaughter and is out on a cash bail of Ksh.300,000 and a Ksh.1million surety.

The deceased was buried on April 2, 2019 at the Lang’ata Cemetery.