A Nyeri Court has issued a warrant of arrest against four police officers who attended to the scene where the late Nyeri Governor Wahome Gakuru died in a road crash at the Makenji area in 2017.
On Thursday, August 12, Nyeri Principal Magistrate Weddy Kagendo issued the order for the arrest of Sergeant John Wanami, Sergent Martin Simiyu, Corporal Francis Kisavi, and Police Constable John Kivuva after they failed to appear at the scene of accident during the hearing of the case.
The warrant of arrest is to be effected by Makuyu Police Officer Commanding Police Division.
Principal Magistrate Kagendo also summoned Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga, Mathira MP, Rigathi Gachagua, County Secretary Benjamin Gachichio, and county Chief of Staff Paul Wambugu to appear and shed light on grey areas in regard to Gakuru’s death.
When the case came up for hearing and site visit at Makenji in the Kabati area, the four officers were nowhere to be seen prompting Prosecutor Kennedy Magoma to apply for their arrest for disobeying the court order.
“The four officers were aware of the case, in fact, summons have been issued and as such, I apply for their warrant of arrest for them to explain what happened in a professional manner,” Magoma said.
While issuing the warrant, Justice Kagendo said it’s unfortunate that the four officers made her crew waste public resources and they must face the consequences of their actions.
On the other hand, Governor Kahiga was summoned to shed light on a statement that he made moments after Gakuru’s death saying that he warned the late Governor not to use the vehicle due to its mechanical state.
The Gakuru’s family lawyer, Mary Weru, applied for the summoning of the Governor saying that it was prudent for Kahiga to shed light since he was a direct beneficiary of Gakuru’s death.
“Your honor, it’s good if the Governor appears in court, he made this remark in public at Kimathi University, and as such let him shed light on it,” Weru stated.
The lawyer also successfully applied for the summoning of the Count Secretary and Chief of Staff to shed light on staff assigned to Gakuru before his death.
In regard to Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua, the lawyer said that he must also appear in court to testify due to the fact that before the Governor’s death, he had instituted an audit on the use of funds, some of which he was said to have misappropriated during his brother’s (the late Governor Nderitu Gachagua) era.
While summoning the legislator, Justice Kagendo noted that Rigathi was a person of interest in the inquest and as such he should also appear.
She set September 23rd and 24th as the dates for hearing the case.
