Ex-KDF Major Mugure Denied Bail In Wife And Kids Triple Homicide Case

A former Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Major, Peter Mugure who is accused of killing his family of three, (wife Syombua and two children) was on Friday morning denied bail with Justice Jairus Ngaah sitting at the Nyeri High Court citing the likelihood of witness tampering.

The Former KDF officer Peter Mugure will now remain in custody throughout his trial after the judge heard that the suspect had sent his sister to persuade a co-suspect in the murder case to recant a statement he’d recorded with the police and granting him bail would lead to more witness tampering.

The co-accused Friday narrated to the court how Mugure called him and handed over the bodies for disposal. He said Mugure promised him a job in the military during a subsequent recruitment exercise. “He told me not to be shocked. He told me that this is the job he had been calling me to perform. He told me never to tell anybody what I’d seen and if he heard anything he’d also kill me. He also assured me that he’d make sure that I was recruited to the military during the national recruitment which was near… He told me to assist him carry the bodies to his vehicle, parked at the parking bay,”  read a statement by the co accused to the court.

The ex-Air Force Major was arrested in November last year after the bodies of Syombua, Shanice Maua and Prince Michael were discovered buried in a shallow grave in Thingithu area near the Laikipia Air Base. He was first arraigned in court on November 18, 2019 and detained, he was later charged on January 10, 2020 investigations were concluded.

Two other suspects James Maina Mwangi (who was a technician at Nanyuki 43 Ordinance Composite Company) and Collins Pamba (who was a casual labourer at the senior officers’ mess in the Laikipia Airbase) were also arrested.

The case will be heard on March 23.