The high-profile murder trial of six police officers accused of killing the Kianjokoma brothers has been postponed until July 2, 2025. The adjournment, which faced significant opposition, was granted after one of the accused officers, James Mwaniki Njohu, was hospitalized at Thika Level 5 Hospital due to complications. His father claims these health issues stem from the stress related to the case, in which Njohu maintains his innocence.
The case was set to proceed for hearing on June 9, 2025, however James Mwaniki Njohu, one of the accused police officers was not present in Court and his Lawyer Danstan Omari asked the court to adjourn the case since his client was admitted to hospital.
The Court directed that the Deputy Registrar of Judiciary at Kiambu High Court to proceed to Thika Level 5 Hospital to confirm whether Njohu was indeed admitted at the facility.
In a letter submitted to Justice Margaret Muigai, the hospital’s medical superintendent, Dr. Angela Wekesa, confirmed that Njohu is still recovering at the facility.
Njohu is one of six officers charged with the murder of Benson Njiru Ndwiga and Emmanuel Mutura Ndwiga, widely known as the Kianjokoma brothers. His co-accused are Benson Mputhia, Consolata Kariuki, Nicholas Cheruyoit, Martin Wanyama, and Lilian Chemuna.
B͙a͙c͙k͙g͙r͙o͙u͙n͙d͙ ͙o͙f͙ ͙t͙h͙e͙ ͙C͙a͙s͙e͙
The case dates back to August 17, 2021, when the six officers were arrested for the alleged killing of the brothers during the enforcement of COVID-19 curfew regulations in Kenya.
Benson Njiru, 22, was an engineering student at Don Bosco Technology Training Institute, while Emmanuel Mutura, 19, was a law student at Kabarak University. On the night of August 1, 2021, the brothers were reportedly confronted by police while leaving a local bar in Kianjokoma after closing their pork butchery. Attempting to flee, Emmanuel fell, and Benson turned back to help him. Witnesses testified that they were then apprehended by plainclothes police officers and beaten before being thrown into a police vehicle.
Their bodies were discovered days later, prompting national outrage.
L͙e͙g͙a͙l͙ ͙D͙e͙v͙e͙l͙o͙p͙m͙e͙n͙t͙s͙
After their arrest, the six officers were held for 14 days to allow for investigations and to prevent tensions with the local community. On August 26, 2021, they filed a lawsuit against the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Inspector General of Police, and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority, seeking to block murder charges. They requested an inquest instead and sought court approval to exhume the bodies for an independent autopsy by a private pathologist. However, High Court Judge Daniel Ogembo dismissed the application.
By August 31, 2021, ten lawyers representing the officers withdrew from the case. The accused pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder in September 2021. In November 2021, they were granted bail of KSh 300,000 each and were prohibited from entering Embu or Kianjokoma. One officer, Benson Mputhia, was allowed to pass through Embu on his way to Meru County.
W͙i͙t͙n͙e͙s͙s͙ ͙T͙e͙s͙t͙i͙m͙o͙n͙i͙e͙s͙
The trial began on February 9, 2022, at the Milimani Law Courts. The first witness, John Mugendi Njeru, a friend of the brothers, recounted their final evening together. He said the group left a bar around 10:01 PM and encountered a plainclothes officer. As they fled, Emmanuel tripped, and Benson returned to help him. Mugendi said he saw an officer beat Benson before placing him in a police cruiser.
Another friend, Chris Dan Mureithi, corroborated Mugendi’s account.
In November 2022, the brothers’ parents, John Ndwiga and Catherine Njuki, testified about their last interactions with their sons. They had spoken to them earlier that evening about closing the butchery early due to the curfew. When their phones later went off, the family grew concerned. A search began the next morning, and three days later, they learned of the deaths.
The brothers’ uncle, Felix Njagi, also testified. He told the court that during a visit to Manyatta Police Station, officer James Mwaniki assured him that the family would be compensated for the deaths through insurance
