CS Aisha Jumwa's Murder Case Takes Another Twist

Public Service Cabinet Secretary (CS) Aisha Jumwa has had her status as a suspect in a case in which she is co-accused of murder alongside her bodyguard changed.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has now filed an application seeking to have the case withdrawn, approving a request from Jumwa's lawyers to have the charges against her dropped.

CS Jumwa, who was accused of killing Gumbao Jola in 2019, will be turned into a state witness after making an oral application to that effect.

Her lawyer, Danstan Omari, had argued that the evidence against her was not enough to sustain the murder charges against her. In addition, it was argued that Jumwa does not own, nor has she ever used a gun.

“It is in the line of duty of the DPP to apply for the withdrawal of a matter before the court, the ODPP has powers to discontinue criminal proceedings,” Omari stated.

The formal withdrawal of the case will happen on December 21, 2022.

On Tuesday, October 18, the prosecution told the Mombasa High Court that the family of the deceased requested to settle the matter out of court.

Senior State Counsel Vivian Kambaga revealed to the court that the prosecution had received a sworn affidavit from the deceased's family over the matter.

"Your honour the prosecution has received a letter from the family requesting us to drop the charges since the family wants to settle the matter out of court," Kambaga told the court.

According to Kambaga, the decision by the family to withdraw the charges against Jumwa (the second accused person) is because she is not the principal offender in the matter.

"The victim's family was desirous of having the matter settled out of court considering that the second accused was not the principal offender in this matter. The ODPP has received these prayers and it's being considered at the moment, and we will be able to come back to you with an informed decision and next course of action," Kambaga added.

The former Malindi Member of Parliament (MP) thereafter wrote to the DPP, Noordin Haji and the court requesting to become a state witness. By the two parties granting her request, she would testify against her bodyguard.

Jumwa and her aide, Geoffrey Okuto, were charged with the murder of Jola, 48, in the chaos that erupted during the Ganda Ward by-election on October 15, 2019, at his home.

Despite both of them asserting that they're innocent, they are accused of storming Jola's house accompanied by her supporters and causing chaos that led to the death. Several other people, including police officers, were injured during the chaos.

The developments came after DPP Haji on Wednesday, October 12 withdrew a Ksh19 million corruption case against her.