Leaders defend teacher in custody over Senator Kabaka hospitalisation

Esther Nthenya Muli at the Milimani law courts on Monday. [Collins Kweyu, Standard]

The leadership of Makueni County yesterday came to the defence of a woman who was arrested after Machakos Senator Boniface Kabaka was hospitalised following a sudden illness. 

Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana described Esther Nthenya Muli as a "caring lady" while Makueni MP Daniel Maanzo, who is her lawyer, said she was a "harmless woman of repute caught up in issues she had nothing to do with".

In Kilimani, where Maanzo spent the better part of yesterday, police were said to be considering releasing Muli after tests conducted at Nairobi Hospital reportedly ruled out the possibility of the senator being poisoned.

"A caring lady (from Makueni) who takes a gentleman in distress to the hospital cannot be a murderer. She deserves bail and justice," Prof Kibwana posted on social media, where he also wished Mr Kabaka a quick recovery.

Muli was in the company of the senator at an apartment in Kilimani estate when he mysteriously fell ill.

Maanzo accompanied Muli's family members during a visit to the Kilimani Police Station, where she is being held. While expressing optimism that his client will soon be freed, he said the only thing standing between her and freedom were the test results from the hospital.

Great friends

The lawyer said Muli was a woman of "repute and integrity" and had no reason to want the senator dead. He said she and Kabaka were "great friends" and that she was instrumental in Kabaka’s election to the Senate in the last General Election.

“She cannot even hurt a fly," Maanzo told The Standard on the telephone. "It is either the test results will free her or, if not, we will meet in court."

When The Standard reached out to Kilimani DCI boss Fatuma Hadi on the matter, she declined to comment.

Our independent investigations established that the hospital test results had been verbally communicated to the police, but they were insisting on getting a hard copy before a decision could be reached.

The investigators are also said to be waiting for a digital forensic report of Muli's mobile phone.

On Monday, Nairobi Senior Resident Magistrate David Ndungi granted the police seven days to complete investigations. Mr Ndungi also directed that Muli be detained until December 14, when the matter will be mentioned.

According to an affidavit filed by investigating officer Jason Matete, Kabaka drove himself to an apartment in upmarket Kilimani on Thursday afternoon. At around 3pm, he was joined by Muli.

"From the apartment, they ordered drinks and food through telephone from the nearby 3Dee restaurant, which were brought and served by the apartment’s employees,” said Mr Matete.

On Friday morning when the senator was taken to hospital in an ambulance.