Nyandarua: Police officer, civilian convicted of beating man to death after night of drinking

The High Court in Nyandarua has convicted Police Constable Evans Mokaya Motari, formerly attached to Kandutura Police Post, and civilian James Njoroge Muriithi for the manslaughter of Paul Mureithi, who died after a violent assault in April 2022.

Justice Kiarie Waweru, delivering the judgment on Thursday, found that the two fatally beat Mureithi using a hoe stick following a night of drinking at Mla Chake Bar in Kandutura Trading Centre. 

The court heard that shortly before he died, Mureithi identified both men as his attackers to several witnesses, including responding police officers.

Originally charged with murder, the judge reduced the charge to manslaughter, citing insufficient evidence to prove malice aforethought.

Thirteen prosecution witnesses testified during the trial. Sentencing will take place on December 4, 2025.

The International Justice Mission (IJM) Kenya, which represented Mureithi’s family as victim counsel, welcomed the conviction.

Vincent Chahale, the IJM Kenya Country Director, said the decision sends a strong signal to law enforcement officers that those who engage in criminal acts will be held accountable. 

Julius Nyagah, the IJM advocate handling the case, said the conviction brings solace to victims and hope to families still waiting for justice, adding that it strengthens the demand for accountability for police excesses.

Mureithi was found with severe injuries by members of the public and police officers, and he died shortly afterward. 

A post-mortem revealed that he had sustained a fractured left femur and other blunt-force injuries. 

Officers Dickson Kimathi and Joseph Njoroge, who responded to the scene, told the court that the dying Mureithi named Constable Mokaya and James Njoroge as his attackers.

Investigators recovered a broken jembe hoe, a blood-stained sisal rope, barbed wire, a shoe and socks, all of which were entered as evidence.

The jembe was believed to have been used in the assault, while the rope and wire were suspected to have been used to restrain the victim. 

A store receipt linked the jembe to PC Mokaya, who had purchased it days before the attack, while DNA belonging to James Njoroge was found on the jembe, placing him at the crime scene.