Family of murdered engineer accuse Buruburu police of locking them out of case proceedings

Father travelled from Nanyuki only to be told to wait outside

by corazon wafula

Infographics12 July 2020 - 11:56

In Summary

• Father tells the Star that he was locked out of the proceedings as Justice Kimaru delivered the ruling on her application for bail.

• Justice Luka Kimaru released the woman on a Sh1 million bond with a surety of a similar amount or an alternative bail of Sh500,000.

Vigillance Shighi, who is suspected of killing her husband, Edward Okello,before Makadara law courts on June 2, 2020

The family of a 33-year-old aeronautical engineer allegedly killed by his lover in their rented house in Umoja has accused police of bias in the case.

Vigilance Shighi, 29, is accused of killing Edward Okello on May 29 after she allegedly stabbed him three times with a knife during a domestic fight.

Okello succumbed to injuries at the Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital in Kayole. He had three stab wounds in the chest and abdomen.

Shighi was arrested and charged on June 8, and has since been in police custody at Buruburu police station.

The deceased father Saul Fredrick Okello has, however, accused the police at the station of bias and locking him out of the proceedings that have been going on virtually at the station.

Justice Luka Kimaru released the woman on a Sh1 million bond with a surety of a similar amount or an alternative bail of Sh500,000.

Okello told the Star that he was locked out of the proceedings as Justice Kimaru delivered the ruling on her application for bail.

Shighi had applied for bail on June 24.

Edward Okello's father Saul Fredrick Okello outside Buruburu police station

He said he arrived at the police station from Nanyuki on Tuesday and was asked to wait outside.

“While I was waiting outside, they started the proceedings and I wasn’t allowed in. None of my family members was allowed in. I insisted on getting in but I was told that only the accused is needed, and I should wait for information outside,” Okello told the Star outside Buruburu police station.

Okello said he does not know what transpired during the proceedings and the details he has are secondhand reports from those who attended.

“I don’t know the next mention or when the hearing of the case will start because I was told to wait for information without being told when and who will give such information to me,” Okello said.

Shighi dismissed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations’ opposition to her bail and pledged to attend court when required.

The DCI argued she might interfere with witnesses.

“I have no prospects whatsoever of jumping bail since I have my siblings and aging parents to look after,” she said in her affidavit.

Edited by EKibii