An Embu man has been charged with the murder of Lawrence Muriuki Njiru after the deceased’s body was allegedly discovered buried on a farm in Itabua.
Josephat Kamenchu was arraigned before the Embu Law Courts and charged with murder contrary to Section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code.
The charges were presented by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), which told the court that Kamenchu and Njiru had been working together on a farm in Gichaverere Village when the alleged killing occurred.
Principal Prosecution Counsel Peninah Mwaniki told the court that Kamenchu allegedly hacked Njiru to death under circumstances that are yet to be fully established.
According to the prosecution, the accused allegedly attempted to conceal the killing by burying Njiru’s body on the farm and planting a banana tree over the spot.
The body was reportedly discovered later after the section of ground where it had allegedly been buried sank, raising suspicion and leading to its recovery.
Kamenchu denied the murder charge when he appeared before the court. He also alleged that he had been assaulted while in police custody.
Following the allegation, the court directed that Kamenchu undergo a medical examination to establish his condition. The court further ordered that a medical report detailing the findings be filed for consideration.
The murder case will return to court on September 29, 2026, when it is scheduled for mention.
The prosecution will be required to establish its case against Kamenchu as the legal process proceeds. The accused remains entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty by a court of law.