Two more suspects detained for 28 days over Kware murders

A court has allowed the police to detain two men allegedly found with a mobile phone belonging to one of the women killed and dumped at an abandoned quarry turned dumpsite in Kware within Embakasi in Nairobi.

The two are, Amos Momanyi and Moses Ogembo, who were arrested in Pipeline estate in Embakasi on July 16 will be held at the Muthaiga police station for 28 days.

Principal Magistrate Irene Gichobi of Makadara Law Courts allowed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to detain the suspects at any other police station should there be a need for the safety of the suspects upon informing their lawyers

The magistrate noted that the public is increasingly getting impatient with courts since they feel they are taking too long to deliver justice. She cited an incident in Murang'a where Gachocho residents stormed a police post and forced police to release a murder suspect before they lynched him inside the police post on Wednesday last week.

"The case under investigation has elicited public outcry, anger and related emotions. The respondents (Momanyi and Ongembo) are still presumed innocent therefore their safety is paramount and to ensure justice, the court has to consider all the parties - the respondents and the families of the deceased victims," Gichobi.

The DCI claims that Collins Jumaisi, the prime suspect, has confirmed that he collaborated with two men arrested in Pipeline estate in executing the murders.

Inspector Patrick Wachira of DCI's Homicide Unit told the court that Momanyi was found with a mobile phone belonging to one of the deceased women - Roselyne Akoth and her two SIM cards. Momanyi could not give a satisfactory explanation about how he acquired the phone but claims to have bought it from Ongembo.

"During the arrest of Momanyi and Ongembo, the police managed to recover many exhibits including more than 154 assorted models of mobile phones, 27 assorted SIM cards, a national identity card, among other items which are of crucial evidential value to the ongoing investigations and which need more time to be submitted to forensic investigations," stated Wachira.

Ogembo's shop and house remain active scenes of crime pending forensic investigations where the DCI will be looking for more incriminating evidence.

Wachira was pleading with the court to allow the DCI to detain the two men for 30 days but the suspects opposed the application through their lawyer Alex Ong'era.

Ong'era told the court that seven days is sufficient time for the DCI to conduct the investigations since the investigators already stated that they have a prime suspect who is not among his two clients.

During his application, Wachira had told the court that Momanyi and Ongembo live in rental houses in Pipeline estate and hence cannot be said to have a known fixed place of abode, adding their two houses remain active scenes of crime.

But lawyer Ong'era told the court that the same did not warrant the lengthy detention of his client, adding that Ogembo hails from Nyamarambe, in South Mungirango in Kisii and some of his family members were in court.

However, Gichobi said owing to the long list of items recovered from the suspects, including Jumaisi, that need to be taken through investigation processes, there is a need to give the investigators enough time for the same.

"There is a need for sufficient time to allow the investigating team to conclude the investigations well and thoroughly. The public needs to know the truth which can only be realised if sufficient time is allowed for the investigating team to comprehensively do the investigations," stated Gichobi.

"In the end, I will allow the application and the final orders are that (Momanyi and Ogembo) will be detained at the Muthaiga police station for 28 days to enable the investigators and the prosecution to conclude the investigations. Counsel representing the respondents will liaise with the investigating officer (Wachira) on when, where, how and by whom the respondents will be allowed to engage with."

Momanyi, Ogembo and Jumaisi, who is held at a different police station, will return to the court on August 16 for updates on the status of the investigations.

The DCI is investigating murders of at least 42 women killed, chopped into pieces and dumped at the abandoned quarry in sacks.

Wachira said at least 13 human remains have been retrieved from the dumpsite and are currently at the Nairobi Funeral Home pending investigations.