Machakos priest murder: Suspects freed on bond without taking plea

The High Court in Embu has freed on bond three suspects arrested in connection with the murder of Machakos Catholic priest Michael Kyengo Maingi.

Appearing before Justice Florence Muchemi, the three; Muthini Mutunga (25), Kavivya Mwangangi (25) and Solomon Mutava aged 44 were freed on a bond of Ksh.300,000 with a surety of similar each despite not taking plea.

The accused, who have been in custody for the last one and half months, are set to take plea on December 16.

This was the second time the court was deferring the plea taking by the suspects who have been in custody since they were arrested in connection with the murder of Father Michael on October 8.

The plea taking was postponed after the counsel appearing for the three suspects sought for the adjournment of the matter since they were not yet supplied with documents in relation to the murder case as had been ordered by the High Court last week when the three appeared in court.

Lawyers Alfso Mbidio and Kirimi Guantai for the accused told the court it was hard for them to get proper briefing from their clients as well be able to advice them accordingly since the prosecution was yet to avail the required documents.

However, senior prosecution counsel Leah Mati told the court that the situation had been brought about by the fact the matter was being investigated by the DCIO in Nairobi and that she was yet to get the documents to supply them to the defense.

Justice Muchemi ordered that the plea be deferred for the next 21 days until the prosecution supply the committal bundles to the defense as well as the court within 14 days.

The three suspects are accused of allegedly killing the 44-year-old Catholic priest at Makima location in Mbeere Sub-county.

The body of the Catholic priest from Machakos who was killed and his body buried in a shallow grave was exhumed on October 16, 2019.

The man of the cloth was reportedly waylaid on October 8, 2019 while traveling from Tala to his Thatha parish in Masinga.

Reports indicate that he was hijacked by the killers who apparently strangled him to death before burying the body.