Friday, September 14, 2012

Kabogo and guards to testify last



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Emma Nzioka | NATION Former assistant chef at Wasini Leonard Mbugua Thairu after testifying in the inquest into the death of university student Mercy Keino in Nairobi on September 13, 2012.
Emma Nzioka | NATION Former assistant chef at Wasini Leonard Mbugua Thairu after testifying in the inquest into the death of university student Mercy Keino in Nairobi on September 13, 2012.  
By PAUL OGEMBA pogemba@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Thursday, September 13  2012 at  21:00
IN SUMMARY
  • Arrangement meant to ensure that those adversely mentioned can defend themselves, says State counsel
People adversely mentioned in the inquest into the death of university student Mercy Keino should testify last to defend themselves, the Director of Public Prosecutions said on Thursday.
State counsel Moses Omirera told presiding magistrate Peter Ndwiga: “It will be in the interest of those mentioned by other witnesses to come last on the list to retract what has been said about them and to tell the court their side of the story.”
Juja MP William Kabogo is among those who have been mentioned so far. He is alleged to have slapped and kicked Ms Keino moments before she was last seen alive.
Also mentioned are his two bodyguards, who are said to have dragged the student out of a party the MP hosted at the Wasini Luxury Homes in Westlands.
The bodyguards were in court to testify, but Mr Omirera requested they be summoned after the prosecution finishes with its eyewitnesses.
Ten witnesses have so far appeared before the inquest, with the prosecution intending to call about 56 more.
In Thursday’s hearing, a former assistant chef at Wasini told the inquest that Ms Keino got drunk and became disorderly before she was restrained by a friend.
Started shouting
Mr Leonard Mbugua Thairu said he was on duty when Ms Keino arrived with other women to attend the party organised by Mr Kabogo.
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“At midnight, a woman came out and started shouting. The head chef told her to keep quiet because she was disturbing other guests before a man came and took her back to the restaurant,” Mr Thairu said.
Ms Keino then became violent and started breaking glasses, forcing him to call a security guard to take her away, he said.
This was the last time Mr Thairu said saw her alive, he told the court, adding that the next day his colleague told him that the woman who was misbehaving had gone missing.
Another witness, Ms Kendi Areria, who was the administrative manager at Wasini, told the inquest that they confirmed from a businessman who had leased an apartment that he had allowed Mr Kabogo to use his room for the party.
She said that the businessman, a Mr Shah, told them it was all right for the party to proceed in his apartment after which she welcomed Mr Kabogo’s guests, the majority of whom she said were women, and served them with drinks.

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