There was a light moment at the Milimani Law Courts on Friday, November 11, after a police officer charged with the murder of lawyer Willie Kimani begged the presiding judge to order prison authorities to change his diet.
In an emotional appeal, Stephen Chebureti requested for a special diet, saying he was having difficulties ingesting githeri offered in prison.
Chebureti told Justice Daniel Ogembo that he has been surviving on ugali throughout his stay at Industrial Area Prison.
He urged the judge to order the prison authorities to provide him with milk, cabbage and potatoes as a supplement to Ugali.
“Mimi nikiwa jela mwili yangu imekataa chakula kabisa. Chakula natumia tu ni ugali na hiyo ndio chakula yangu. Wakipika githeri sikuli. Naomba koti ipate kunisaidia nipate kupewa cabbage, viazi, ugali na maziwa,” Chebureti pleaded with the judge.
Justice Ogembo, who was holding a brief for Justice Jessie Lessit following her promotion to the Court of Appeal, directed that the inmate be presented to the clinical officer in charge of the correctional facility for a check-up over the diet issue.
“On the issue of diet by Chebureti, I have suggested that since it’s a matter that involves medical observation, the accused be presented before the prison in charge clinical officer if there is any recommendation to be made by the clinical officer he will do so, ” Justice Ogembo directed.
At the same time, Justice Ogembo postponed the sentencing of the officer and his three co-accused persons to December 16, 2022.
The much-awaited verdict was scheduled to be rendered today Friday, November 11 by Justice Lessit.
Justice Ogembo told the parties Lesiit is away on official duties and will be available on December 16.
Justice Ogembo further allowed a request by three police officers Cheburet, Fredrick Leliman and Sylvia Wanjiku, and informer Peter Ngugi to file any further submission on the sentencing.
The court also stated that Lawyers of Leliman and Cheburet will be allowed to appear before Justice Lessit to highlight their submissions sentencing before the verdict is rendered
The victims were kidnapped after leaving Mavoko Laws Courts on June 23, 2016.
Their bodies were found dumped at Ol Donyo Sabuk river a few days later.
While convicting the accused persons, Justice Lessit ruled that the prosecution had proven that the four acted with the common intention of harming the lawyer, his client, and their taxi driver.
Notably, one officer – Leonard Mwangi – was acquitted as Justice Lessit ruled that there was insufficient evidence linking him to the murder.
The case of lawyer Kimani dates back to 2015 when his client and boda boda rider, Josephat Mwenda was accidentally shot by officer Fredrick Leliman.
Mwenda’s decision to seek justice over the shooting incident saw him become a victim of threats and intimidation from officer Leliman.
Lawyer Kimani took up Mwendwa’s case in 2016 after the intervention of the International Justice Mission (IJM).
The boda boda rider had been falsely accused of violating traffic laws and charged in court in a bid to drop complaints against Leliman.
