William Kabogo: I didn’t assault Mercy Keino

Kiambu Governor William Kabogo has denied assaulting former University of Nairobi student Mercy Keino who was later found dead on a roadside.

Mr Kabogo also denied that he hosted a party at Wasini Luxury Homes in Westlands on June 17, 2011 where Ms Keino was last seen alive.

He told an inquest into the death of Ms Keino that he did not understand why some witnesses had claimed that he assaulted the student, adding that the idea of bringing up his name might have been politically motivated.

“It is not true that I assaulted Ms Keino and I wonder why someone would make such allegations. The statements are outrageous and I think the witnesses might have been induced to make them for political reasons to damage my character,” said Kabogo.

Two witnesses had told the inquest that Mr Kabogo assaulted Ms Keino before she stormed out of Wasini Luxury Homes.

Ms Scolastica Namwai Kamemba testified that Mr Kabogo got annoyed when Ms Keino started misbehaving and slapped her several times.

A caretaker at the homes, Mr Charles Macharia, also testified that he pleaded with Mr Kabogo to stop beating Ms Keino. He said that Ms Keino was lying down while Mr Kabogo was slapping and kicking her.

Mr Kabogo said that although he got annoyed at Ms Keino’s misbehaviour, he did not assault her and only held her on the shoulders before asking her friend to take her away.

“She was quite drunk and started breaking everything. I stood up, shook her by the shoulders then tapped her on the face and asked who brought her in the room.

SORRY FOR FAMILY

‘‘She then started making noise and the people downstairs came and took her away,” said Kabogo.

“I must say it was very unfortunate that the young lady died. It was very sad for the family to lose a promising girl who was about to graduate and I do say sorry to them,” he said.

“There was no party, I was going to meet my friend and even if there was a party, I would have invited people I know. That was a fabrication since I remember the only people who had a party at the place were celebrating a birthday,” said Kabogo.

He said that after the bar was closed, he went with three ladies to an upper apartment before Ms Keino stormed in while drunk.

After Ms Keino was taken out of the room, he added, he spent a few minutes with the ladies before clearing his bill.

He then received a call from then Belgut MP Charles Keter (now Kericho Senator) informing him of the death.

The inquest into Ms Keino mysterious death was ordered after police investigations failed to uncover the mystery behind her death, soon after her disfigured body was found on the road.

Senior principal magistrate Peter Ndwiga adjourned the hearings to December 4.