The late Juja MP George Thuo’s murder trial will proceed today where the accused who were put on defence are testifying to exonerate themselves.
On Tuesday, the first accused Paul Wainaina who was Thuo’s friend took to the stand and told the court that the late MP was worried about the ICC case where he was a witness.
Wainaina, who is the owner of the restaurant where Thuo died, further claimed that he didn’t like to delve deeply into the issue but he mentioned he was to be a key witness for former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Wanaina alias Sheki, Christopher Lumbazio, Andrew Karanja, Samuel Kuria Ngugi, Esther Ndinda Mulinge and Ruth Watahi Irungu were two weeks ago placed on their defense by Judge Korir.
The court found that they have a case to answer after the prosecution called 30 witnesses to testify against them.
Wanaina was the first to defend himself on Tuesday saying he and Thuo were good friends since childhood and he had no motive to poison him.
He said on the fateful day, Thuo visited Porkies Restaurant in Thika.
He called Wanaina at around 7:30 pm saying he wanted to come and watch formula 1.
They met at around 8:45 pm. But Thuo had passed by somewhere else and had a drink before finally proceeding to Porkies.
Thuo died on the night of November 17, 2013, detectives believe the cause of death to have been caused by a toxic chemical that was mixed with his drink.
Elsewhere, the court will today rule whether eight men charged with Sh449 million Fuliza fraud syndicate will be released on bail.
Peter Gitahi Wambui, Isaac Kipkemoi, Gideon Rono, Moses Rono, Collins Kipyegon, Maxwell Njamba, Edwin Kipkorir and Gideon Kirui were charged with 13 counts among them conspiracy to commit a felony namely theft, being in possession of proceeds of crime namely motor vehicles.
In the first count, the suspects are accused that between January 1, 2022, and July 4, 2022, at an unknown place in the Republic of Kenya, they jointly conspired to commit a felony namely stealing Sh449,647,200, the property of NCBA.
They denied the charges before Milimani chief magistrate Susan Shitubi and pleaded for lenient bond terms.
