Kenya: State can't trace witnesses in murder case

The Government has been given two weeks to produce 14 more witnesses to testify in the trial of a self-confessed serial killer who ate his victims' flesh and drunk their blood in Naivasha.

State Counsel Nelly Ngovi  told Nakuru judge Maureen Odero that six witnesses are police officers who have since been transferred. The Government was not ready for the hearing.

But lawyer Julius Ombati for the accused, Geoffrey Matheri alias Fongo, opposed the move, saying the case has been dragging for about eight years. The court ordered the State to produce all the witnesses to testify and close its case on July 21 and 22.

The suspected 'cannibal' confessed last year to killing and eating human flesh and drinking their blood under the 'devil's influence'. He linked his actions to a church in Naivasha.

Matheri, who is facing murder charges, was nicknamed 'vampire' after his victims, mostly female, alleged he had been sucking blood from their bodies after kidnapping them.