Pulse logo
Pulse Region

Suspect in Ivy Wangechi murder detained

Naftali Njahi Kinuthia escorted by police to his first court appearance following murder of Ivy Wangechi (Twitter)
Naftali Njahi Kinuthia escorted by police to his first court appearance following murder of Ivy Wangechi (Twitter)

The courts on Monday ruled to detain Naftali Njahi Kinuthia for 14 days as the proceedings for the Ivy Wangechi murder commenced.

The ruling was passed to allow police to compile the witness statements before the case goes to trial.

Mr Kinuthia is charged as the prime suspect in the murder of Moi University student Ivy who he has not denied hacking the girl to death.

The 28-year-old man will be held at the Nauberi Police Station in Eldoret and will be allowed to get medical attention for his injuries while in custody.

Kinuthia was released from the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital on Friday after receiving treatment for serious head injuries.

Crime of passion

Kinuthia has not denied killing the 25-year-old Medicine student with an axe.

In his statement to detectives, Kinuthia explained that he was enraged when he hacked his love interest.

DCI further revealed that forensic investigations of the suspect's phone had shown that he had been in communication with Wangechi for weeks before he finally killed her.

He had also sent over Sh24,000 to the victim for a birthday party she was planning and had met with her for a cup of tea on the day he murdered her.

According to the investigations, it was after Wangechi switched her phone off and refused to communicate with the suspect that he purchased an axe and a knife and had them sharpened before he attacked.

Monday's ruling was made by Eldoret Senior Resident Magistrate Nicodemus Moseti on behalf of High Court judges who are on recess.

The case will be mentioned again on April 30, 2019.

Subscribe to receive daily news updates.

Next Article