Church leader accused of attacking his patner pleads not guilty, granted Sh200,000 bail
By Lucy Mumbi |
Njeru had surrendered at Nakuru Police Station, accompanied by his lawyer from Gakuhi Chege and Associates Advocates.
A businessman, Elias Mutugi Njeru, accused of attempting to murder his partner, has been released on a cash bail of Sh200,000 or an alternative bond of Sh500,000.
Njeru, accused of stabbing Florence Wanjiku Gichohi, appeared before Principal Magistrate Daisy Mose at the Molo Law Courts on Monday, where he pleaded not guilty to the charge.
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The case, which has drawn considerable public attention, is set for a hearing on December 9, when pretrial directions will be issued.
Njeru had surrendered at Nakuru Police Station, accompanied by his lawyer from Gakuhi Chege and Associates Advocates. He was subsequently re-arrested and detained at Menengai Police Station while investigations continued.
The alleged attack occurred at the couple’s rental home in the Olive area of Nakuru, following reported domestic disputes.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the victim, who is also Njeru’s business partner at Indigenous Land Properties Limited, sustained serious injuries and is currently undergoing medical treatment.
Meanwhile, unconfirmed CCTV footage has surfaced, offering insight into the events that might have led to the assault.
The footage, dated November 21, shows the victim, Wanjiku, conversing with a security guard near the couple’s company vehicle.
Shortly after, Njeru arrives in a white Toyota Prado, where he briefly interacts with another security guard before the situation escalates.
From another angle, a Toyota Succeed, one of the company’s cars, appears and collides with the rear of Njeru's vehicle. This prompts Njeru to confront the driver of the Succeed in a brief physical altercation.
The driver attempts to reverse, but Njeru is seen jogging towards the car, engaging with the driver again before walking back to his vehicle and leaving the scene.
The footage ends with the Toyota Succeed still parked, its front end damaged from the collision.
Wanjiku, while recounting the events at the hospital, explained that an argument about both personal and business matters led to the violent attack.
She further claimed that despite attempts to end the relationship, Njeru was not willing to separate.
“We had been in a romantic relationship for years, and we even have two children together. A few weeks ago, I ended things with him. Our relationship had been increasingly troubled, especially over business disagreements," she said.
The couple had previously co-managed a lands and property company located in the heart of Nakuru City, but their relationship, according to Wanjiku, soured after she demanded to end it and asked for the repayment of money owed to her by her former partner.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with figures such as Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru condemning Njeru's actions amid concerns about the growing issue of femicide in the country.
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