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Suspect in Msando murder to remain in custody till Monday


An accountant arrested in connection with the murder of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission’s ICT Manager, Chris Msando will remain in police custody until Monday next week.

Andrew Kipkoech Rono, 58, who was arrested following allegations that he sent a threatening message to the deceased before he met his brutal death, appeared before High Court judge James Wakiaga at the Milimani Law Courts.

The Prosecution told the court that Mr Rono should not be released pending investigations and that there was a possibility that he could interfere with the ongoing probe.

“A team of investigators has obtained mobile data, which is now undergoing forensic examinations, and could lead to the arrest of more suspects. We, therefore, pray that the suspect should not be released pending investigations,” the court heard.

ARRAIGNED IN COURT

The suspect, an accountant, who works for a state corporation, was arraigned in court after detectives investigating the murders of Mr Msando and his 21-year-old friend, MaryAnne Ngumbu, arrested him on July 14 and therefore sought for more time to detain him in police custody.

Mr Rono was a landlord to Mr Msando at Nyayo Estate in Nairobi’s Embakasi estate, until four years ago.

He is believed to have frequently communicated with the deceased even after he had moved out.

He was picked from his place of work alongside a Mr Idra Kisasa.

A 17-year-old girl was also arrested in Awendo Township, Migori County last Wednesday on allegations that her phone was used to send threatening messages to Mr Msando last year.

She is being held at Muthaiga police station as well.

Bodies of Mr Msando and Ms Ngumbu were found in Muguga forest in Kikuyu on July 28.

They were taken to the morgue by police officers.

The former IEBC’s ICT manager’s body was identified at the City Mortuary on July 31, two days after he went missing.

POST-MORTEM EXAMINATION

A post-mortem examination conducted by Chief Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor at the Lee Funeral home revealed that Mr Msando was strangled to death.

Ms Ngumbu had just completed her three-month attachment at the Naivasha Sub-County hospital before meeting her untimely death.

She had been a Nutrition student at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) Karen Campus, due to graduate in December.

Mr Msando was laid to rest on August 19 at his Lifunga Kobiero village home in Ugenya, Siaya County while the born-96 woman was buried on August 11 at her parents’ home in Gachie.

The case will be mentioned on September 4.