Accident ruled out in Keino death

Relatives of the late Mercy Chepkosgei Keino at the graveside at Keben , Sosiot. Corporal Gilbert Kitalia told an inquest into the death of Ms Keino that investigators ruled out a hit-and-run or accident theory.  NATION

By  PAUL OGEMBA pogemba@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Tuesday, April 2  2013 at  20:52

A detective investigating the mysterious death of university student Mercy Keino Tuesday said the girl might have been murdered elsewhere and the body dumped by the roadside.

Corporal Gilbert Kitalia told an inquest into the death of Ms Keino that investigators ruled out a hit-and-run or accident theory after reports by experts showed she was not involved in any accident.

“We had two theories; one that she was involved in a hit-and-run accident and the other that she was murdered elsewhere and dropped by the roadside. We ruled out the first theory after experts’ reports showed she was not hit by a vehicle,” said Mr Kitalia.

Mr Kitalia said after Ms Keino’s death, he was summoned to Nairobi CID Headquarters where three teams were formed to investigate the death.

He said his brief was to recount events at Wasini Luxury Homes where Ms Keino was last seen alive.

He said his first assignment was to review CCTV footage of events of the fateful night and he could clearly see the activities in the party hosted by Kiambu Governor-elect William Kabogo.

“The footage showed how Mr Kabogo and his friends sat at different tables and later joined at one table, how he left for another room upstairs, how the deceased became chaotic and started breaking glasses and how she was carried out of the apartment,” said Mr Kitalia.

He said investigators came up with the hit-and-run theory after a witness told them she had seen something like a human body being tossed under a Mercedes Benz while driving on Waiyaki Way.

He added that a second witnessed informed them about seeing a lady waving to motorist on the opposite side of the road and how when he passed on that side a short while later, he saw a body lying on the roadside.

“It is then that we called in experts to examine the vehicle the first witnesses described and their conclusion was that the vehicle was not involved in an accident,” Mr Kitalia said.

Another witness, who was at the party, told the inquest that Ms Keino became unruly after mixing her drinks and fled but was brought back.

Mr Robert Gitau, a pilot, said he was invited to the party by a friend and as the night went on, he went to the club house then suddenly heard a commotion outside.

“We went to check and a security guard took us to a room where Mr Kabogo was and found him standing at the door with Ms Keino and another lady, who said she was Ms Keino’s aunt,” Mr Gitau said.

He said Ms Keino was led outside the apartment and it is then that she fled towards Waiyaki Way.

“We followed and found her siting in the middle of the road and carried her back to Wasini where security refused to allow her in. We left her with her aunt who said she would call her boyfriend to collect them,” he said.

Five minutes later, Mr Gitau said, Mr Kabogo left the apartment, paid his bills and gave him a lift to the Westlands stage where he took a taxi and went home. The inquest continues on on Wednesday.