Mathira MP Gachgua, Governor Kahiga to testify in Wahome Gakuru’s death
Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga and Mathira legislator Rigathi Gachagua will appear before a court to testify in the ongoing inquest probing the death of former Nyeri Governor Wahome Gakuru.
This is after a Nyeri court yesterday summoned the two alongside two other county officials, Nyeri County Chief of Staff Paul Wambugu and County Secretary Benjamin Gachichio, as witnesses in the case.
Former Nyeri principal magistrate Weddy Kagendo had in August 2021 summoned the four but they sought a review of the orders before Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi.
However, Andayi yesterday told the four that the issues they had objected had been thoroughly ventilated upon by his predecessor before the orders were issued.
“The session will also give the deceased’s family and other interested persons an opportunity to question the witnesses so that they can get accurate facts of how their loved one met his death,” he stated.
Kagendo had ordered Kahiga to appear before her court to explain a statement he made after Gakuru’s death.
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,” submitted Weru.
Kahiga reportedly told the gathering that he had warned Gakuru not to use the ill-fated car claiming it had a technical problem.
Weru further claimed at the time of the accident, Gakuru had ordered the audit of the county funds during the period under which the MP’s brother Nderitu Gachagua was the governor.
In November 2017, during a requiem mass of the late Governor, Kahiga said that he had warned Gakuru not to use his Mercedes Benz due to its mechanical state.
Prosecutor Martha Ndung’u said that the late Gakuru had started investigating a case of misappropriation of public funds during the tenure of Nyeri’s first governor, Nderitu Gachagua, who was a brother to the MP.
In regard to 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 bother’s era.
Kagendo noted that Gachagua was a person of interest in the inquest and as such he should also appear.
The magistrate had also directed the officer commanding Makuyu police division to effect the arrest of Sergent John Wanami, Sergent Martin Simiyu, Corporal Francis Kisavi, and Police Constable John Kivuva after they failed to appear at the scene.
