Nine SSU members who are believed to be behind the disappearance and murder of the two Indian IT experts ( who were working for William Ruto’s campaign team), and their driver now claim that their arrest is politically motivated.
Through their lawyer Danstan Omari, the suspects claim that they have been targeted in a revenge plot against former DCI George Kinoti. They told the court on Thursday that they are being pushed to implicate Kinoti to get their freedom.
“My clients are before this court just because the state wants to use them to settle political scores. It is their commander who is being targeted and they are under pressure to incriminate him and turn him into a state witness,” Omari said.
The lawyer further noted that there was no reason for his clients to continue being locked up in the police cell since exhibits that were retrieved from the Aberdare forest do not belong to the Indians and their drivers.
“Even the bones and clothes that were allegedly retrieved (and suspected to belong to) the two Indians and their driver have been disowned by their families,” he added.
The prosecution however revealed that they are holding the suspects in a bid to protect their lives because those who are involved with the case have been threatened.
“There is genuine fear and anxiety. Preliminary investigations point to a larger network of individuals who are yet to be arrested and hold crucial information in our investigations,” Michael Kirui, an investigating officer, told the court.
Omari however argued that there is no evidence proving that the suspects’ lives are in danger if they are released on bail or bond. The defense is further objecting to DNA tests on the suspects as well as forensic examination on their phones.
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