Muchai murder trial: Accused says he’s been locked alone in Kamiti ‘cold room’ for 10 years
Simon Wambugu, the seventh accused in the case, told the Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina that he has been held in isolation for the entire 10 years he has spent on remand.
One of the accused persons in the murder of former Kabete MP George Muchai has pleaded with the court to intervene over the harsh conditions he says he is enduring at Kamiti Maximum Prison.
Simon Wambugu, the seventh accused in the case, told the Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina that he has been held in isolation for the entire 10 years he has spent on remand.
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He asked the court to order prison officers to move him to a shared cell with other inmates instead of keeping him confined alone.
Wambugu said he was surprised by the decision to place him in what he described as a cold, isolated room.
The case was up for mention before Magistrate Onyina to confirm whether all parties had submitted their final arguments ahead of a judgment.
It was during this session that Wambugu raised his concerns with the court.
The magistrate inquired whether he had reported the matter to the prison authorities.
Only spoken to wardens
Wambugu replied that he had only spoken to the wardens, who may not have forwarded his complaint to the relevant officials.
"In that room, I'm locked inside throughout, and I don't even know whether it is morning or evening. I rarely see anyone," he said.
Following his plea, Magistrate Onyina directed that the prison’s welfare department address the issues raised by Wambugu. He also ordered the matter to be mentioned again on August 26 to confirm whether assistance had been provided.
Wambugu is the only one among the seven accused who is being held at Kamiti Maximum Prison.
The others—Eric Isabwa alias Chairman, Raphael Kimani alias Kim Butcher, Mustapha Kimani alias Musto, Stephen Astiva alias Chokore, Jane Wanjiru alias Shiro, and Margaret Njeri—are facing 10 counts of robbery with violence alongside Wambugu.
Isabwa, Raphael, Mustapha, and Stephen are being held at Industrial Area Remand Prison, while Wanjiru and Njeri are detained at Lang’ata Women’s Prison.
Magistrate Onyina set September 10 as the date for parties to highlight their submissions before a judgment date is announced.
George Muchai was killed 10 years ago along Kenyatta Avenue in Nairobi’s central business district, alongside his two bodyguards, Samuel Kailikia and Samuel Mantata, and his driver, Stephen Wambugu.
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