Businessman charged with brutal murder of his wife

Businessman Francis Mwangi Ndirangu before Justice Robert Wananda at the High Court in Eldoret. [Lynn Kolongei, Standard]

Eldoret businessman who is a prime suspect in the brutal killing of his wife, a senior accountant at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), has denied murder charges.

Francis Mwangi Ndirangu pleaded not guilty when he appeared before Justice Robert Wananda at the High Court in Eldoret on Wednesday after a mental assessment report showed he was fit to stand trial.

According to the charge sheet, Ndirangu allegedly killed Rael Biwott on the night of June 22 and 23, at Shauri estate in the outskirts of Eldoret town, Uasin Gishu county.

The court was jammed with the victim’s family members, friends and MTRH staff.

They wore T-shirts that bore messages seeking justice for Biwott while others had femicide cases in the country are on the rise.

The Judge ordered a pre-bail report to be tabled in court even as the family advocate Ham Lagat said they would oppose Ndirangu’s application to be released on bond.

Justice Wananda said that the outcome of the probation officer’s report will determine the suitability of freeing Ndirangu on bond.

He directed that the pre-bail report should be ready in 14 days before the matter is mentioned before Deputy Registrar Rosemary Onkoba.

Cherop, a mother of four, reportedly failed to turn up for duty on the fateful day, and efforts to trace her were futile.

Her dismembered body parts were later found dumped at various places across Nandi and Uasin Gishu counties between June 24 and 27, 2024.

The deceased was reportedly last seen leaving her workplace on June 22, 2024, around 7 pm, accompanied by her husband.

A DCI report indicated that despite initial statements by Ndirangu, claiming that they took a matatu home, CCTV footage showed the left in a Toyota Succeed, that had been hired by Ndirangu.

According to the investigators, on June 24, around noon, some of Cherop's dismembered body parts were found stashed in a gunny bag beside the road in Kapsilegaa village, Nandi county.

Later that day, more body parts including her head and upper limbs, were discovered beside the road in Lamaiywet village, Uasin Gishu county.

The DCI recovered the deceased’s legs and internal organs stashed in a polythene bag beside the road in Mutwot village, Nandi county.

An autopsy conducted in the presence of family members and legal representatives revealed that Biwott suffered severe neck injuries and blunt force trauma to the head.

The case will be mentioned on September 10.