Erick Muyera Isabwa, the prime suspect in the murder of former Kabete MP George Muchai, has pleaded not guilty to 10 charges of robbery with violence.
This includes the violent robbery of six victims, among them two sisters, Gladys Waithera and Irene Muthoni. Appearing before Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina on Friday, Isabwa sought to discredit the prosecution's evidence, raising serious doubts about the credibility of the police's actions and testimonies. The case, which intertwines the high-profile murder of the former MP with a string of violent robberies on the night Muchai, his two aides, and his driver were killed.
The charges against Isabwa and his six co-accused Raphael Kimani, Mustapha Kimani, Stephen Astiva, Jane Wanjiru, Margaret Njeri, and Simon Wambugu stem from multiple counts of violent robberies involving six victims that occurred five hours before the former MP was killed in the early hours of February 7, 2015, along Kenyatta Avenue. Isabwa, also known as "Chairman," vehemently denied all robbery charges and ever being behind the murder of Mujchai asserting that the prosecution's witnesses are giving false or inaccurate testimonies "I was never involved in any of the robberies or the murder of George Muchai," Isabwa insisted, adding that the witnesses against him were either mistaken or misleading the court.
The suspect defense strategy hinged on pointing out inconsistencies and contradictions in the prosecution's case. One of his main arguments was directed at the handling of his arrest, claiming that several police officers involved in the case could not recall the specific police stations where he was booked after his arrest. "I was arrested and charged with robbery with violence nine years ago, and I would like to prove my innocence before this court," Isabwa told the court.
