Kianjokoma brothers case delayed as accused officer hospitalised
On Tuesday, a letter from the hospital's medical superintendent, Angela Wekesa, was presented to Justice Margaret Muigai confirming that James Mwaniki Njohu is still undergoing treatment.
The trial of six police officers accused of murdering brothers Benson Njiru and Emmanuel Mutura in Kianjokoma, Embu County, has been delayed after one of the accused was admitted to Thika Level 5 Hospital.
On Tuesday, a letter from the hospital's medical superintendent, Angela Wekesa, was presented to Justice Margaret Muigai confirming that James Mwaniki Njohu is still undergoing treatment.
"This is to confirm that the above-named was admitted to the hospital on June 8, 2025, and is currently still on treatment," the letter stated.
The court had on Monday, June 9, directed the Deputy Registrar to personally visit the hospital to confirm whether the accused was receiving treatment.
This followed a request by defence lawyer Danstan Omari, who told the court his client was absent due to illness and asked for the hearing to be postponed.
Njohu is charged alongside five other officers: Benson Mbuthia, Consolata Kariuki, Nicholas Cheruiyot, Lilian Cherono and Martin Wanyama.
Court records show that the brothers were arrested by the officers during the Covid-19 curfew period and later died in police custody.
However, all six officers have denied killing the brothers on August 1, 2021, with earlier reports claiming the two jumped out of a moving police vehicle and died on the spot.
