A housewife accused of stabbing her husband to death at Kiamugumo village, Kirinyaga East Sub- County will take a plea for murder on January 4, 2022.
Jedidah Wanja Njeru, widow to murdered Assistant Chief for Kiamugumo sub- location could not take plea late December as scheduled after it emerged there was no Judge on duty at the Kerugoya law courts.
The prosecution led by State Counsel Beatrice Muthoni informed the area Principal Magistrate Eric Wambo that there was no judge on duty to lead the accused as she takes the plea.
“Your honour, the nearest date when there will be a Judge on duty is January 4 at the Nanyuki law courts and I urge the court to remand her in custody till then for the plea to be taken,” Muthoni submitted.
Wanja who appeared in court dressed in a black pullover that covered the head and face partially, a blue face mask and black trousers looked composed.
A plainclothes detective from Kianyaga police station where she had been detained since committing the alleged offence on December 15, 2021, stood on the ready within the courtroom.
Wanja’s relatives were there to give moral support as she waited to know the direction of the murder case.
Her lawyer Kemunto Magara however applied for a review of the Embu Remand Prison condition where Wambo had ordered that she be remanded earlier on till the date for the plea.
The lawyer told the court it would be cumbersome for Wanja’s relatives to be travelling to Embu to visit her when she could still be detained at Kianyaga police station which was closer to her home.
Wanja has been charged that on Dec 15 at Kiamugumo village Kirinyaga East Sub- County she murdered Denis Magu Njeru.
Njeru was the area assistant chief and a son to Kirinyaga County Assembly nominated MCA Wanjiru Njeru.
Njeru’s body was interred on Dec 23 at his father’s home with the suspect absent as she was in police custody. His funeral service was presided over by a retired Anglican Cleric Munene Ngoru.
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