• Senior assistant chief Habiba Hassan said the accused had a knife strapped in a pouch around his waist.
• She said on arrival at the scene, she found a pool of blood and was told the deceased had been rushed to hospital.
Image: DENNIS DIBONDO
A high court in Meru on Tuesday heard witness testimonies in a case where a human rights activist in Isiolo was murdered last year.
Habiba Hassan, a resident of Isiolo and senior assistant chief of Kambi Gabra told Meru Presiding Judge Edward Murithi that she got a phone call from Hebeni Esofa that Elizabeth Ibrahim Ekaru, who was popularly known as Kithiruni, had been stabbed by Patrick Naweet.
"I went to the scene where the incident had occurred, the two were involved in a dispute over land. The accused lured the deceased to an area where the two had disputes and he stabbed her severally," she said.
The administrator went on to say that elders had convened a meeting to resolve the dispute prior to the murder.
She said on arrival at the scene, she found a pool of blood and was told the deceased had been rushed to hospital.
"The accused was being beaten by a mob, he was holding a blood-stained knife in his hand," Habiba said.
"I pleaded with members of the public to leave him alone and I also pleaded with him to let go of the knife. I told him to put the knife down."
Habiba said she was afraid the perpetrator could stab her too.
"He put the knife down and we held him with other residents and called police from Isiolo police station who took him away," she said.
The senior assistant chief said the accused had a knife strapped in a pouch around his waist.
She said on arrival at the hospital where the deceased had been rushed, they were informed that the victim had succumbed to her injuries.
"I went to view her body and I could not hold back tears. The deceased's body had several stab wounds and blood was still oozing from her body," she said.
The assistant chief said the human rights activist was very vocal and helped the community so much through her work.
Habiba has been assistant chief for 11 years. She said the meeting to solve the differences between Ekaru and her killer had been held a week before her tragic death.
Patrick Murira, the police officer who arrested Naweet said on January 3, 2022, he was in office when he was told a mob at Kambi Garba was beating up a man.
"We rushed to the scene and found the accused being subjected to mob justice. We also found the area assistant chief pleading with residents. We rescued the suspect and we rushed him to hospital," he said.
He said the knife had already been confiscated by the assistant chief.
The officer said after going to hospital, they took the accused person to the police station and went to where the victim was and found a lifeless body of a woman with deep cuts on thighs and hands.
"We processed the scene and took the body to hospital morgue, the body had fresh wounds," Murira said.
We recorded statements to the investigation officer, he added.
Mugambi Sande, the counsel for the accused and prosecutor Erick Masila cross examined the witnesses.
Three more witnesses are expected to appear in court. The case was adjourned and will proceed on June 19 for two witnesses to testify.
Elizabeth Ibrahim Ekaru was a dedicated women's human rights defender and a women’s rights community leader who spent most of her life fighting for the rights of women, youth and children from pastoral communities.
She was a renowned gender activist who spread the message of women empowerment through educating the girl child.
Ekaru was also involved in several initiatives of economically empowering women from her community through village savings and loan associations and other self-help groups.
Image: Dennis Dibondo