Hit-and-run: Widow's 10 months' agony in search of justice for husband

If you meet Allen Wanjiru Wangari for the first time, it will be hard to tell that she has been carrying a heavy burden for the past 10 months. Her dark shades do not betray the fact that something is bothering her, but the mention of the name Benson Kageche Mugane instantly triggers her emotions as she breaks down in tears. Wanjiru and Kageche were married and led a quiet life at Mununga area in Githunguri Sub-County, Kiambu, until death did them part on June 16, 2023. As fate would have it, Kageche, 38, a father of three, died after being knocked down in a hit-and-run accident around 11pm as he was heading home to join his family. "I was waiting for my husband to come back home from work but around 11pm, one of his brothers knocked on our door and reported that Kageche had been involved in an accident," Wanjiru recalls. At that time, a crowd had formed around Kageche's body after he was knocked down and left fighting for his life. When she arrived at the scene, police officers from Githiga were at the scene but had to wait until 1am for a police vehicle from Githunguri Police Station to pick the body. "We proceeded to Mokoe Funeral Home where his body was kept as we started the next phase of preparing for burial," she said. Reportedly, Kageche -- who was travelling back from Nairobi -- had alighted at Githiga market and was strolling home when the accident happened at Mununga area. The matter was booked at Githunguri Police Station under OB 7/17/6/2023. Multiple injuries A copy of the postmortem report seen by The Sunday Standard shows that Kageche died of multiple injuries. Even so, the family laid the deceased to rest on June 22, 2023, optimistic that police investigations would shed light on the night accident. "After the burial, Kageche's mother was disturbed and kept asking around if anyone could have seen the vehicle that killed my husband," said Wanjiru. About two months after the burial, a neighbour approached the family and confessed to having witnessed the accident on the fateful night. More shocking revelation was that the driver of the vehicle that ended Kageche's life lived in the same village. "After interrogating the witness, he confessed that on the fateful night he was metres away and saw everything unfolding, only that he was afraid of approaching the family," she added. Wanjiru said with the new development, they proceeded to Githungiri Police Station's traffic section to record a statement. With the new twist, the family was directed to alert the police immediately they spotted the alleged vehicle in the neighbourhood. Suspect "As directed, we traced the vehicle and alerted the police leading to the arrest of the suspect and the vehicle was towed to Githunguri Police Station. A day later, on visiting the station, they were informed that the suspect had been released on bond and the vehicle was awaiting inspection. After several follow-ups, Wanjiru claims the officers started taking them in circles until they realised that the vehicle had been released in unclear circumstances. "After about a month of follow-up and asking that we be provided with an abstract, one of the officers became hostile to us," said Wanjiru. A senior traffic officer at Githunguri police and privy to the case when reached dismissed it, saying the matter has since gone to court. But area Investigations boss Ali Kingi told The Sunday Standard that the case has never gone to court. He explained that the file was forwarded to his office last week and he has since forwarded it to the Office of the DPP. Public inquest "It is only last week (first week of March) that I received the file and we have forwarded it to ODPP for directions," Ali explained. "If the DPP agrees with us about the public inquest, the witness will get a good chance to testify and the magistrate will give directions on whether to charge or not," he explained. Elizabeth Mugane, 58, the deceased mother who is also a widow says that losing her first born son and elusive justice has drained her.

Hit-and-run: Widow's 10 months' agony in search of justice for husband

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