Dressed in a checkered shirt and a black pair of trousers, murder suspect Kevin Kang’ethe stood before the court to represent himself on Tuesday.
Kang’ethe is accused of killing a 31-year-old Kenyan-born Margaret Mbitu who was based in Whitman, Massachusetts whose body was discovered inside a vehicle at Boston’s Logan Airport in November last year.
He on Tuesday told the court his intentions to formally end his attorney-client relationship were “based on a bunch of reasons”.
Listing the reasons, he alleged that he was never accorded the liberty to appoint his lawyers and that those who were representing him in the previous appearances were provided by the DCI.
He claimed that upon discussing his matter with him, they would relay the same to the officers of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
“The Attorneys I have are appointed by the DCI. They report back to the DCI. My information is not private with them,” he told Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina.
“That’s why I ended my relationship with them to get a chance to get my attorneys.”
Kang’ethe further told the court that he had not received any information regarding the extradition proceedings hence, he was not sure how to continue with the matter.
He told the court that he had at various times before it, wanted to tell his side of the story but was not able to.
“I tried to explain what happened at Muthaiga Police Station. I’m not sure what to do at this point. Last time I was in court, my attorneys refused to mention what happened,” he alleged.
He urged the court to allow him access to his phone and his contact list so he could get a chance to get a new attorney.
In response, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions led by Vincent Monda noted that they were not opposed to Kang’ethe getting new lawyers.
“If the respondent (Kang’ethe) wants another lawyer to come on record, we have no objection. It is his right,” Monda noted.
He however reminded the suspect that Tuesday’s mention was to get further directions on the extradition proceedings.
“The mention was to take directions on how the extradition proceedings would be conducted and on the pending bail application,” he emphasized.
Monda noted that the investigations into the Muthaiga Police Station escape were not under the court’s jurisdiction.
This, he said, is purely a preserve for the Inspector General of Police on how the probe will be conducted and the officer in charge of prison.
The prosecutor said the ODPP as duly directed by the court, has filed an affidavit in objection to the bail.
This is after receiving Kang’ethe’s affidavit in support of the application for release on bail/bond terms.
After responding, Monda told the court that they had informed the counsel for the respondent via email and they duly acknowledged the receipt.
He urged the court to expedite the proceedings.
Confirming that he knew the purpose of the day’s court appearance, Kang’ethe said he did not wish to continue with the hearing of the bail/bond application.
“I do not wish to continue with the bail/bond application until the so-called Muthaiga escape issue is at rest,” he said.
“I also do not wish to proceed with the previous attorneys. I was not afforded the right to hire my own. They were provided by the DCI. I don’t feel I’ve been properly represented in the entirety of the last month.”
He urged the court to grant him time to get new attorneys.
Upon determination, Chief Magistrate Onyina directed that Kang’ethe be given time to his phone so he can access contacts to necessitate the hiring of new advocates.
The court also directed the Prosecution to provide the suspect with all necessary documents.
The matter will be mentioned on March 1, to ascertain if he will have gotten an advocate.
