Two police officers linked to the murder of Janet Waiyaki at Nairobi’s City Park were Monday charged at the High Court in Nairobi.
Administration Police Constable William Chirchir from Makadara Police Station and AP Godfrey Kirui from Industrial Area Police Station denied murdering Janet Waiyaki in May.
The two officers pleaded with Justice James Wakiaga to release them on bail, arguing that the constitution grants them the right unless there are compelling reasons to deny them bond.
Their lawyer, Ham Lagat, said that they were still serving the force and would abide by all conditions given by the court. He said the suspects were residing in police quarters and had been going to Gigiri police station whenever they were required.
The prosecution, through the assistant director of public prosecutions, however, opposed their release on bail saying that a survivor of the shooting was discharged from hospital on Thursday and the investigating officer was yet to take some statements.
She argued that detectives need at least seven days to file an affidavit.
The Judge granted the prosecution five days to file the statement and for the suspect’s lawyer to reply, ahead of the hearing on the bail application scheduled for June 19.
The judge also rejected a plea by Lagat for the two to be held at the Gigiri Police Station.
He said the two accused persons had already pleaded to the charge and should be remanded at the Nairobi Remand Prison.
The trial will start on November 20 and will be heard for three days.
The two were with three other officers on the morning of May 21 when they shot at a car that had reportedly stayed in a thicket for long.
They were the only ones that fired, discharging 15 bullets between them from their AK47 rifles and killing Waiyaki on the spot and injuring Bernard Chege.
