Keroche Breweries CEO Tabitha Karanja on Thursday told an inquest she suspected Omar Lali could have had a hand in her daughter’s death because she could have refused to continue financing him.
Tabitha told an inquest into the mysterious death of Keroche heiress Tecra Wangari Muigai that it was Lali’s greed that caused her daughter’s death.
She was recalled in court after Lali made the application in a bid to cross-examine her regarding her testimony in court saying when she testified, he was absent and was also not represented.
Testifying before Senior Principal Magistrate Zainab Abdul, Tabitha said it was not normal for Tecra to be transferring huge amounts of money ‘to a 60-year-old man’.
She admitted that she didn’t know why Tecra was sending the money but it was not a normal occurrence.
“In our culture, men send the money, not the other way round. Not usual for an older man to be receiving huge amounts of money from a young girl,” she said.
Tecra was 29 years old when she met her death.
She explained to the court that as a mother, she felt her daughter was not in a good relationship but she decided to let her be.
Also recalled was one Peter Kariuki. A family friend told the court that Omar could have manipulated Tecra emotionally.
“I think he used false pretences to convince her to stay,” said Kariuki. Asked how by Lali’s Lawyer, Kariuki said.
“Like trying to cut off communication between her and family, friends, and people she knew way before.”
Kariuki said he was shocked to hear Tecra was dating Lali because he knew the type of people Tecra would be involved with romantically.
“They were much younger,” he said.
“It seemed she didn't have a chance to express herself in the relationship,” he added.
From his observation, Kariuki said it might not have been easy for her to quit the relationship probably because he manipulated her emotionally.
Tecra's brother, James Mungai was also cross-examined in the inquest today. He said he was not happy with the relationship as the age gap was something he never expected.
He explained how Tecra was always defensive when he tried to bring up the subject of Lali.
“She said with or without family approval. She would still date him,” said James.
He also mentioned how Tecra had said she was sought of obsessed with Lali.
“She kept saying he is a prophet and not an ordinary man."
Tecra died on May 2, 2020, at Nairobi Hospital. She allegedly fell down steep stairs at a house in Lamu.