Suspects linked to murder of Tabuga PCEA Rev Julius Ndumia charged with robbery with violence

A couple linked to the murder of Tabuga PCEA Reverend Julius Ndumia have been charged with robbery with violence.

The couple Felix Odinga Okumu and Beryl Nafula Otenyo who appeared before Nakuru Chief Magistrate Tito Gesora denied two counts of robbery and handling stolen property.

Particulars of the charge sheet indicate that on May 4, at PCEA Tabuga Parish, Bahati subcounty the two together with others not before court, while armed with crude weapons robbed Rev Julius Ndumia one mobile phone make Samsung Galaxy A16, paired with Safaricom, airtel and Faiba sim cards valued at Sh22,500 and Mpesa 162,000 at the time of the robbery or after committing the crime

They also faced a second charge of being found in possession of Bernard Nyamwaka’s phone, an Infinix worth Sh18,500, the security guard who was present at the church on the fateful day.

Nafula faced an alternative count of handling stolen property on diverse dates between May 4 and 8, she was found in possession of Rev Ndumia’s mobile phone.

The prosecutions made unsuccessful attempts oppose the suspects’ release on bond citing incomplete investigations and witness interference.

The prosecution informed the court that detectives were pursuing other suspects believed to have participated in the crime and who had not yet been arrested.

According to the prosecution, releasing the accused persons at this stage could jeopardize ongoing investigations and potentially interfere with efforts to trace and apprehend the remaining suspects. The State further argued that the accused posed a flight risk due to the seriousness of the charges they face and the widespread public attention generated by Rev. Ndumia’s killing, which sparked outrage within the local community.

However, the court released the two on bond, explaining that they are a married couple and that their continued detention had negatively affected their young children as communicated by the couple. The two had told the court the children are currently without adequate care and support. 

They also requested that the court facilitate legal representation for them since they could not finance a lawyer for their defense.

In his ruling, Chief Magistrate Gesora stated that the prosecution had not sufficiently demonstrated that the accused persons would interfere with witnesses, tamper with evidence, or obstruct investigations if released. 

The court also noted that no evidence had been presented to show that the suspects posed a threat to any person connected to the case and to their lives being at risk if released back to the community.

Consequently, the court granted the bond terms a Sh3000,000 bond or a cash bail of Sh200,000 and directed the relevant legal aid committee to appoint an advocate to represent the accused persons, noting that the case involves a capital offence. 

The matter will be mentioned on June 17 for a pre-trial conference.