The trial against former Special Service Unit (SSU) officers accused of killing two Indians who were working in President William Ruto’s campaign has been suspended.
Kahawa Chief Magistrate Diana Mochache has suspended the case after the state failed to produce DNA evidence that it was relying on in order to charge six former police officers.
The two Indians—Mohamed Zaid Kidwai and Zulfiqar Ahmen Khan—are reported to have arrived in the country in April last year to join President Ruto’s ICT campaign team. They went missing on July 25 after they were abducted outside Ole Sereni Hotel together with their taxi driver, Nicodemus Mwania.
The Shakahola deaths investigation, where the majority of government resources had been focused, caused the delay, according to an explanation provided in a petition by the ODPP.
“All government machinery is concentrating on Shakahola. No prejudice will be suffered by accused persons since all are out on bond.” ODPP stated.
The defense team, which was led by Miss Katirina, had objected to the delay, saying that the government had the means to carry out the DNA tests and provide the results as needed.
Katirina argued that by causing delays and interfering with their rights and freedoms, the State was unnecessarily subjecting the accused to emotional torture.
The attorney expressed his displeasure that despite the case having been in court for more than six months, the prosecution had not been able to compile sufficient evidence to move forward with the trial.
The team noted that the state had postponed filing formal charges against the suspects because there was no proof connecting them to President Ruto’s technologist and his taxi driver’s deaths.
The Advocates complained to the chief magistrate that the case was taking too long to kick off hence subjecting the accused to emotional and financial strain.
