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Six people found guilty in ex-Juja MP George Thuo's murder case

The six people found guilty of the murder of former Juja MP George Thuo. (Joseph Ndunda)

By Joseph Ndunda | Friday, April 19, 2024

Thuo developed complications after taking the beer and was rushed to a hospital in Thîka before he was pronounced dead at Aga Khan Hospital.

Six people charged with the murder of former Juja MP George Thuo, who was poisoned at a club in Thîka, Kîambu County, in 2013, were found guilty of the offence by a Mîlîmanî court on Friday.

They include the owner of the club, Paul Wainaina, the MP's aide, and two DJs - Andrew Karanja and Samuel Kuria.

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Others are waitress Esther Ndinda Mûlinge, who served the MP with the drink laced with a poison identified as cyanothrine at Porkies Club, and patron Ruth Irungu.

Thuo developed complications after taking the beer and was rushed to a hospital in Thîka before he was pronounced dead at Aga Khan Hospital.

Justice Roslyn Korir said the prosecution has six people who are now convicts. She said the evidence adduced was sufficient and was not based on suspicion.

Korir agreed with doctors' reports, who found that Thuo's cause of death was haemorrhagic gastroenteritis due to poisoning.

The judge said the poison, a Cyhalothrine pesticide could lead to death in five to ten minutes once ingested into the body, as the court was informed by an expert.

The poison was traced in his liver, kidneys, and the shirt he was wearing on the material day.

"I find the forensic evidence clearly shows Thuo consumed a poison-laced drink at Porkies Club," said the judge before cancelling the bail and bond terms for the convicts.

Defence lawyers led by Dr John Khaminwa pleaded with the judge to reinstate the bail terms so that the convicts remain free pending a sentencing hearing.

The prosecution opposed this application and urged the court to remand the convicts at Muthaiga police station if it doesn't agree to extend the bonds.

The sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 3. The prosecution was directed to respond to the application for bail and bond on Tuesday, April 23.