The High Court has upheld evidence submitted against four suspects in the murder of former Kabete Member of Parliament George Muchai.
According to a statement released by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) on Thursday, September 25, the High Court in Nairobi has ruled that four accused individuals have a case to answer in connection with the shocking 2015 murder.
Justice Kanyi Kimondo delivered the ruling, confirming that the DPP had successfully established a compelling prima facie case against Eric Mungera Isabwa, Raphael Kimani Gachii, Mustafa Kimani Anyoni, and Stephen Astiva Lipopo.
The quartet stands accused of masterminding the execution-style killing of Hon. Muchai, his two police bodyguards Constable Samuel Kimathi and Constable Samuel Lekakeny, and his driver Stephen Ituu Wambugu on Kenyatta Avenue in February 2015.
The prosecution's case relied on comprehensive evidence gathered through an intensive investigation that saw 37 witnesses testify before the court. The evidence presented included direct testimonies, circumstantial evidence, and documentary proof linking the accused to the heinous crime.
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A key witness in the case was a protected taxi driver who provided crucial testimony placing Mustafa Kimani Anyoni at the scene of the crime. The witness also produced a gun safety pin that was discovered in his vehicle, which was later authenticated as evidence in the case.
In their detailed submissions, prosecution lawyers demonstrated that the killings were not random acts of violence but carefully orchestrated murders.
They highlighted the accused persons' use of dangerous weapons and the execution-style nature of the shootings as clear indicators of premeditation and careful planning.
Autopsy reports conducted by Dr. Johansen Oduor provided critical forensic evidence, confirming that all four victims died from close-range gunshot wounds inflicted by high-velocity firearms, supporting the prosecution's argument about the calculated nature of the attack.
While acknowledging the strength of the prosecution's case, Justice Kimondo placed the accused on their defense but refrained from making determinations on parallel robbery-with-violence charges that are pending before a Nairobi magistrate's court.
In a related development, three co-accused individuals - Jane Wanjiru Kamau, Margaret Njeri Wachiuri, and Simon Wambugu Gichamba - were acquitted after the court determined there was insufficient evidence against them.
The case is scheduled to proceed to defense hearing on October 22, 2025, where the four accused will be required to present their response to the substantial evidence assembled by the prosecution.
The tragic events unfolded on the morning of Saturday, February 7, 2015, when Kabete MP George Muchai was making his way home following a family gathering at a restaurant in Westlands.
As Muchai's vehicle approached and slowed down at the Kenyatta Avenue-Uhuru Highway roundabout, a Mercedes-Benz station wagon deliberately crashed into it from the front, forcing the MP's vehicle to come to a complete stop.
Within moments, masked gunmen emerged from the attacking vehicle and opened fire on the occupants, killing the politician, his driver, and both bodyguards instantly. The assailants made off with a briefcase that had been in Muchai's possession.
The assassination sent shockwaves across the nation, prompting widespread condemnation from political leaders across party lines.
Then-President Uhuru Kenyatta paid tribute to Muchai, describing him as a genuine servant of the people, and directed law enforcement agencies to mobilize all available resources to ensure the perpetrators of the brutal murders were brought to justice.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga also expressed his shock and condemnation, describing the killing as brutal and devastating for the entire nation.
