By Petra Njeri
The Milimani Law Courts has rejected a plea to withdraw a warrant of arrest issued for the police officer involved in Kianjokoma brothers death, after he failed to show up for a scheduled hearing.
Mwaniki’s lawyer requested the court to withdraw the warrant after the accused failed to appear for the scheduled hearing, due to his hospitalization.
James was admitted to Thika Level 5 Hospital on the 8th of June 2025.
“The court, through the Deputy Registrar has confirmed that James Mwaniki, one of the accused persons in the case, has been admitted to Thika Level 5 Hospital since 8th June 2025,” stated the ODPP.
Court rejected the plea and upheld the warrant.
“The court directed that James Mwaniki appear before it after being discharged from the hospital,” the Office of the Directior of Public Prosecution (ODPP) stated.
Mwaniki was among six individuals, Benson Mbuthia, Consolata Kariuki, Nicholas Cheruiyot, Martin Wanyama, and Lilian Cherono, accused in the case.
The two brothers, twenty two year old Benson Njiru and his younger brother, nineteen year old Emmanuel Mutura, were murdered in Kianjokoma, Embu County, on the night of August 2021 during enforcement of COVID 19 curfew rules.
The prosecution had lined up witnesses for the scheduled hearing including the government pathologist, two civilians, and a few police officers to testify in court.
However, due to Mwaniki’s medical admission, the hearing was postponed.
“The court had set a five-day hearing on the matter before adjourning it after one of the accused was hospitalized,” the ODPP stated.
The case is scheduled to be mentioned in Court on 2nd July, 2025.