Administration Police officer Erick Musila has pleaded not guilty to a charge of murdering his wife, Kalenjin musician Chelele.
The 29 year-old took plea on Wednesday at Naivasha High Court to where the case was transferred from Kericho over threats against the accused.
Musila, who for the second time on Monday, was whisked away to Naivasha GK Prison under police escort.
Musila's lawyer Aggrey Simiyu had said on Monday that his client was not ready to take plea. But the prosecution told the court today that a medical report from Kericho subcounty hospital cleared for trial.
The report indicated that the accused was coherent, had good concentration, did not have any hallucination and was mentally sound.
Simiyu asked the court to order investigating officers to release personal documents that had been taken from his client.
He said Musila's three ATM cards, his national identity card
Sh6,200 in cash were taken from him upon his arrest.
Judge Christine Meoli asked the prosecution for find to inform the court if the documents were part of exhibits, when the case is mentioned on February 24. Hearings were set for
May 9 and 10.
Outside the court, the relatives of Chelele, whose real name is Diana Chemutai, said the transfer of the case amounted to injustice.
Her sister Susan Chepkemoi told the press outside the courts said the family cannot afford travel expenses.
Chepkemoi said their mother developed health complications and cannot walk following Chelele's murder in Kapkwen, Bomet county.
The musician's body, which had several hand wounds and body cuts, was found in an abandoned house.
Chepkemoi said she was ready to sell her kidney to obtain money for the family to hire a lawyer and cater for transports.
“The man who killed our sister is being treated like a hero as we, family members who had no other source of livelihood, are ignored,” Chepkemoi
said.
She denied reports that the accused had been threatened by Kericho residents, saying this was a "lame excuse".