Peter Ngugi who has been charged alongside others with the murder of human rights lawyer Willie Kimani, his client and a taxi driver. He told a judge on December 17, 2021 that he was only paid a token of Sh3,000 for setting up the victims.
| Dennis Onsongo | Nation Media GroupNews
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I was paid Sh3,000, informer in lawyer Willie Kimani murder says
A police informer at the centre of the killing of rights lawyer Willie Kimani was only paid a token of Sh3,000 for setting up the victims, a judge trying four police officers heard Friday.
Testifying for the second day, Mr Peter Ngugi told Justice Jessie Lesiit that he was given the money by a police officer he named as Wilson Kamau as appreciation for good work done.
“Mr Kamau called me while in Limuru to return to Mlolongo to receive something as I had not worked for free,” Mr Ngugi told Justice Lesiit.
He also told the judge that he monitored the movements of the late Josephat Mwenda, his lawyer Kimani and taxi driver Joseph Muiruri.
All the three were killed on the night of June 23/24, 2016.
Mr Ngugi said he was being paid for setting up the victims, hiding the taxi in Limuru and dumping their bodies in a river.
Paid for work done
He was being cross-examined by a state prosecutor Nicholas Mutuku.
“I was paid for work done. I was given Sh3,000 by Mr Kamau who appreciated my input,” Mr Ngugi told the judge
On June 23, 2016, Mr Ngugi had been detailed by Mr Kamau to spy on “a thief” attending a case at the Mavoko Law Courts in Athi River, Machakos County then report on his movements.
Mr Ngugi was dropped at the law courts and the said “thief” was pointed out to him. He was asked to monitor his movements.
The alleged thief was one Josephat Mwenda who was facing three different criminal cases and was being defended by lawyer Kimani.
The lawyer had hired Mr Muiruri to drive him to court on the fateful day.
After the short court session, both Mr Kimani and Mr Mwenda boarded the taxi which was being driven by Mr Muiruri.
Kept vigil outside
Mr Ngugi, who had been spying on them, was keeping vigil outside. He was picked by a vehicle which drove fast after the three.
At a railway crossing, the three were kidnapped and bundled into a car then driven to Syokimau AP Camp where they were removed from that night and bludgeoned.
Their heavily mutilated bodies were stashed in gunny bags and dumped in River Athi near Ol Donyo Sabuk at the border of Kiambu and Machakos counties.
Mr Ngugi explained how on the night of June 23/24, 2016 he was instructed by an officer he named as Kamenchu to drive him to Thika but branched to go to the river where they dumped parcels stashed in gunny bags.
“Did you ask Kamenchu why he wanted you to take him to Thika? Were you a prisoner?” Mr Mutuku asked him.
“I did not ask him. Police officers are a hard nuts to crack. It is they who ask questions not the vice-versa,” Mr Ngugi answered.
He added, “Even in the morning, I was instructed go to Mavoko. I went without asking questions.”
Mr Ngugi denied that he participated in the plot to eliminate the three despite the call data placing him at the scene between June 22-24,2016.
In attempting to exonerate himself, Mr Ngugi, a second hand clothes seller, said he was roaming the entire Syokimau and Mlolongo pursuing payments from customers he had delivered clothes and shoes to.
He is jointly charged with former police officers Fredrick Leliman, Stephen Morogo, Leonard Maina and Sylvia Wanjohi with murdering Kimani, Mwenda and Muiruri on the nights of June 23/24, 2016 at an open field in Syokimau.
They have been put on their defence after the trial judge found they had a case to answer.
Hearing continues.
