Shakahola tragedy: Second suspect dies in custody as investigation heats up

Another Shakahola suspect has died while undergoing treatment, a month after the passing of Mary Charo Mbita, who breathed her last at Shimo La Tewa Women’s Prison.

The deceased was receiving treatment after a short illness.

Munyambo’s passing is the second instance of an accused person dying in custody, coming after Mary Charo Mbita, who died while receiving treatment at Coast Teaching and Referral Hospital.

“Edison Safari Munyambo alias Baba Sifa died a few days ago at a Mombasa hospital where she was undergoing treatment after a short illness. She is the second accused person to die in custody after Mary Charo Mbita, who died at Coast Teaching and Referral Hospital. The deceased duo is part of 95 accused persons charged with 283 counts of manslaughtèr before Mombasa Chief Magistrate Alex Ithuku,” the ODPP statement read in part.

Both Munyambo and Charo were among 95 accused persons charged in connection with the Shakahola incident, a tragedy that claimed over 429 lives.

The accused, including prime suspect Paul Nthege Mackenzie, also face charges related to torture and cruelty against children, violation of the Basic Education Act, tèrrorism, radicalization, membership in an outlawed group, and murder.

Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Jami Yamina confirmed Munyambo’s passing to Mombasa Chief Magistrate Alex Ithuku.

“The case should proceed while the court awaits the official confirmation document. Once the court is briefed accordingly, the case against the deceased suspect can be marked as abated.”

In a prior court session, Yamina informed Magistrate Ithuku about the passing of Mary Charo, the accused.

“The accused, Mary Charo, has passèd away. The court is requested to mark the case as abated and withdrawn. An inquest has been initiated to establish the cause of dèath, and its findings will be presented to the court,” Yamina stated.

Defence attorney Lawrence Obonyo confirmed receiving news of Charo’s passing and did not contest the prosecution’s request to drop the charges.

“We were already notified of her dèath and have no objections to the case being marked as abated,” Obonyo remarked.

The court has since launched an inquest to examine the circumstances of Charo’s dèath, while the other suspects involved in one of Kenya’s most tragic incidents continue to stand trial.

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