David Wokabi Kamau, a middle-aged man allegedly murdered by guards at Nyali Centre, Mombasa in 2018, was battered to death for urinating on grass, a Mombasa court was told on Monday, July 25.
Prosecution witness Yvette Adhiambo told Mombasa High Court judge Njoki Mwangi that the deceased was badly beaten by security guards outside Tapas club, an entertainment joint located inside Nyali Centre.
Two guards, Hamisi Hare Karisa and Said Mwamuye, are charged with Kamau’s murder.
The court heard that on the day he was killed, the deceased was in the company of the witness and other friends.
They had just left the Tapas club on January 7, 2018, after merrymaking when Kamau excused himself to answer a call of nature near the joint’s parking lot.
“His only offence was to urinate on the grass outside the premises next to the parking lot where a confrontation ensued after one of the guards tried to stop him from urinating,” Adhiambo recounted.
The witness, who broke down severally as she recounted the events of that night, said the victim thereafter came back to the car and began to drive out of the premises.
However, he was unable to leave as the guard and seven others barricaded the gate and when he got out of his car to enquire why they were blocking him from leaving, they attacked him using rungus (clubs) and kicks and blows.
“Immediately he left the club’s premises, about seven guards armed with rungus descended on him. They began to beat him. l was unable to come to his aid since they also threatened me that the same fate would befall me in case l tried to intervene. A huge crowd had gathered as the deceased lay unconscious,” a teary Adhiambo narrated.
Kamau rushed to Mombasa hospital in a critical condition
Adhiambo told the court that she was advised by a stranger to rush the deceased to a nearby hospital as he was in a bad condition.
“I rushed him to Jocham Hospital where he was received by medics, and attended to. The following day, we were advised to report the matter to the police, and by now he was in a coma and the hospital informed his relatives that he needed to be transferred to Mombasa hospital, where he was admitted in the intensive care unit( ICU), ” Adhiambo said.
The court heard that Kamau succumbed to injuries after three days in the ICU.
The suspects have denied killing Kamau.
The hearing of the case will continue on Thursday, July 27, when a doctor who treated Kamau and the investigating officer is expected to testify.
