Wanjiru's inquest adds to Justice Micheni's list of landmark cases

From her early years as a legal assistant to her rise through the ranks of the Judiciary, Justice Wendy Kagendo Micheni has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to justice. 

Her notable handling of high-profile cases, including the controversial inquest into the death of marathoner Samuel Wanjiru, cemented her reputation as one of the country’s most respected judicial officers.

Before being appointed a High Court judge in 2024, Justice Micheni served as Chief Magistrate for a decade. Her legal career is best reflected in the many significant cases she has handled over the years.

She has tackled cases involving corruption, violence, fraud and human rights violations, always trying to maintain a balanced approach despite the public and political pressures surrounding some of them.

One of the most high-profile cases under Justice Micheni’s belt is the inquest into the death of Wanjiru, a national hero and one of the world’s greatest marathoners. Wanjiru’s sudden and tragic death in 2011 in his home in Mathaiga, Nyahururu raised questions that remained unanswered for years. Was it an accident, or did foul play contribute to his demise?

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  Samuel Wanjiru's death still a mystery despite inquest

The inquest into Wanjiru’s death had seen a series of shifts in its handling, beginning with the late Chief Magistrate Hannah Ndungu.

The case was first filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on March 14, 2014, following a directive from retired Nakuru High Court Judge Anyara Emukule.

Emukule had previously handled a property dispute filed by another of Wanjiru’s mistresses, Judy Wambui, who claimed her 15-month-old child was sired by the marathoner.

The case sought orders compelling the athlete’s widow, Teresiah alias Triza Njeri, and his mother, Hannah Wanjiru, to file a succession case.

Magistrate Ndungu was initially assigned to oversee the inquest. However, after her transfer, the later Justice Daniel Ogembo took over the inquiry. Ogembo handled part of the witnesses in the initial stages of the matter.

However, following his promotion to the High Court in 2016, the case was handed over to former Milimani Magistrate Francis Andayi.

Andayi handled the inquest for several years, but in 2021, he too was transferred to Nyeri, at which point the case was transferred to the then Chief Magistrate Wendy Micheni.

The inquest had dragged on for over a decade with conflicting testimonies from family members, friends, and law enforcement officers.

Many believed Wanjiru’s death was not an accident, while others suspected foul play. Despite the contradictory evidence and significant public pressure, Micheni carefully reviewed the testimony and facts presented before her.

On October 2023 months before her promotion, she ruled that Wanjiru’s death was accidental, putting to rest a inquiry that had been clouded with uncertainty for years.

Another significant case Micheni has handled as Chief Magistrate is the famous Sh791 million National Youth Service (NYS) season 1 scandal.

The scandal, which involved the misappropriation of billions of shillings meant for youth empowerment programmes, saw a number of individuals charged with corruption and fraud.

In 2022, Micheni also made headlines with her ruling in a case involving businessman Paul Kobia. Kobia had been charged with shooting into the air during a violent altercation at a Kilimani massage parlor in 2017. 

Despite the high-profile nature of the case, the prosecution failed to present compelling evidence, and Micheni acquitted Kobia of all charges, emphasizing that the case lacked sufficient proof to support a conviction.

Another significant case under Micheni’s tenure was the 2019 conviction of James Mugo, also known as Mugo wa Wairimu, for operating an illegal medical clinic.