Naivasha: Conspiracy to murder case against 72-year-old man to start afresh

A Naivasha court has directed that a case in which a 72-year-old man has been charged with plotting to murder five of his family members start afresh after one year delay.

Naivasha Chief Magistrate Nathan Lutta directed that the matter be handled by another court as from September 24, after the previous magistrate handling the issue stepped aside.

Last month, Naivasha Senior Resident Magistrate Wilson Rading, recused himself from listening to the case due to the attention it was receiving and directed that the file be placed before the Principal Magistrate for further direction.

The family through their lawyer Mbugua Macharia welcomed the decision noting that for over one year the case had stalled with the prosecution giving flimsy excuses.

“We have come for fresh directions over this case after the lower court recused itself from listening to the matter that has been delayed for months,” he said.

In a virtual session, the Chief Magistrate directed that the case kicks off from next week in a lower court.

In the case, Francis Muya, who is the main suspect, faces five counts of conspiracy to murder while the daughter and her fiancé, all in the US, are wanted for similar charges.

Muya is charged that on diverse dates between March 1 and May 2, 2024, jointly with others not in court, he hired killers to murder his estranged wife Rose Njeri Muya at a cost of over Ksh.3 million.

He also faces four other charges of conspiracy to murder Antony Mwaura, Martin Muya, Alex Muya and Oprah Muya, the farmers' three sons and a daughter respectively.

In the case, the granny with the help of his daughter and son-in-law allegedly hired the killers to assist in getting rid of the family members so that they could take over the prime plot in Molo town.

According to documents filed in court, the plan started on the March 1, 2024 when the father and his daughter allegedly met the two killers in a hotel in Nakuru.

In a sworn statement by one of the suspects Paul Waithaka, who has since been turned into a State witness, the father and daughter wanted the five eliminated for refusing to vacate the prime land.

They settled for a fee of  Ksh.3.1 million and proceeded to get the cash through the father and daughter as the woman who lives in the US flew back.