The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has charged a man with murder over the alleged killing of a person in Gichaverere Village, Itabua, Embu County.
The suspect was arraigned before the Embu Law Courts and charged with murder contrary to Section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code.
He denied the charge when he appeared before the court.
According to a statement by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Principal Prosecution Counsel Peninah Mwaniki told the court that the accused and the deceased had been working on a farm when the suspect allegedly hacked the victim to death.
The circumstances surrounding the alleged killing are yet to be established as the case proceeds through the court process.
The prosecution further told the court that after the alleged killing, the accused concealed the deceased's body by burying it on the farm.
According to the prosecution, a banana tree was subsequently planted over the spot where the body had allegedly been buried in an apparent attempt to conceal its location.
"The body was later discovered after the ground where it had been buried sank," DPP stated.
The circumstances surrounding the discovery are expected to form part of the evidence presented as the prosecution seeks to establish what happened to the deceased.
The accused also raised concerns about his treatment while in police custody, telling the court that he had been assaulted while being held by police.
Following the allegation, the court directed that the accused be taken for a medical examination.
The court further ordered that a medical report detailing his condition be filed before it.
The matter will next be mentioned on September 29, 2026.
The DPP's decision to charge the suspect marks the beginning of the formal criminal proceedings, with the prosecution expected to present its case before the court.
For now, the allegations remain unproven, with the court expected to determine the case based on the evidence presented by both sides.
