- A tracker of a motorcycle recovered from some of the suspects also placed them at various scenes of crime.
- They will be detained at Kiuguini, Kirengero, Bahati, Mwariki, Menengai and another police station that was not revealed.
Image: BEN NDONGA
A magistrate on Tuesday allowed police to detain for another 14 days six suspects who were arrested for multiple killings of women in Nakuru.
This is after detectives linked them to more murders in the region.
Key suspect Evans Michori Kebwaro and his accomplices Dennis Alusiola, Dicky Wanjala, Julius Omondi, Isaac Kinyanjui and Josphat Simiyu were first arraigned before Nakuru principal magistrate Charles Ndegwa on July 5.
When they were taken back to court on Tuesday, inspector Peter Kamau from the Homicide Investigations Department of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters said preliminary investigations had placed the six at the scenes where the killings happened.
Kamau took charge of the investigations on July 11. He said forensic evidence and witnesses' accounts had linked the suspects to the scenes of crime.
A tracker of a motorcycle recovered from some of the suspects also placed them at various scenes of crime.
He asked that the court allows the suspects to be held further as detectives establish the organisation and operations of the group and make further arrests and recoveries.
He said they had revisited some of the scenes of crime and made various recoveries of stolen items.
“We need to have the suspects in mobile custody to guide us to various areas of interest,” he said.
He claimed the case has drawn emotions from the residents of Nakuru and it was prudent for the suspects to be detained for their safety pending the conclusion of investigations.
He asked the court that detectives be given more time to finalise the probe.
Police said the suspects should be detained so they don't interact with potential witnesses.
"I'm satisfied there is a need to put the suspects in custody pending further investigations. We want to protect the accused persons from engaging with the public," magistrate Yvonne Khatambi ruled.
"And protect witnesses to ensure investigations are not interfered with. It is on the same premise that I find the application merited.
"So in the interest of justice, the suspects will be held in custody for 14 more days."
They will be detained at Kiuguini, Kirengero, Bahati, Mwariki, Menengai and another police station that was not revealed.
Mention was set for August 2
Among those killed was Diana Opicho, 25, she was the daughter of Bishop Jotham Opicho of the All Nations Church. Opicho was found murdered in her house.
Susan Wambui, 36, was also murdered a week earlier in front of her three-year-old son before the attackers set her house on fire. The baby was rescued. Autopsy showed she had been strangled.
On June 14, in Kiamaina, Grace Wanjiku, 20, was found burnt beyond recognition under a heap of beddings in a house that had been razed by a huge fire.
Attempts by first responders to extinguish the fire proved futile, until fire engines from the county arrived.
On Tuesday, Kamau said they had linked the suspects to more killings including that of Nancy Wanjiru, Sabia Cheupe, Judy Nyambura and Beatrice Akinyi.
(Edited by Tabnacha O)
Image: BEN NDONGA