Killing of ODM youth leader linked to Sh150m Kayole land dispute
The death of an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) youth leader in Ruai, Nairobi, last week has been linked to business rivalry.
A lawyer told chief magistrate Daniel Ogembo on Tuesday that the murder of Stephen Mukabana is linked to a dispute over a piece of land in Kayole sub-county estimated to be worth Sh150 million.
Prior to his death, Mr Mukabana and Mr Fredrick Omolo were charged with conspiracy to defraud a company of the land.
They allegedly conspired to commit the offence on diverse dates between May 21 and June 19 2014.
They denied the charge when they were arraigned in court in October 23 , 2014 and were released on a cash bail of Sh2 million.
Lawyer Stephen Osiro told the magistrate that Mr Mukabana’s murder is linked to the dispute.
During Monday’s proceedings, Mr Osiro, applied for police protection to Mr Omolo whom he claimed “has been receiving death threats.”
A report over the threat has been filed with police, he said.
The magistrate was urged to terminate the case against Mr Omolo because “one cannot conspire to commit an offence alone. It will be difficulty to prove the case against the accused herein.”
The lawyer said he will be asking the court to refund the cash bail deposited in court by the deceased.
Prosecutor Eddy Kadebe said he will wait to get further instructions before proceeding and also wait for the police report on the alleged death threat.
The case will be mentioned on May 3 , 2016 for further directions.
