Paul Gicheru: Family Speaks On Lawyer's Final Moments
Khaminwa further dismissed widespread media reports which pointed out to poisoning as the cause of his death.
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The family of the late Kenyan lawyer Paul Gicheru has revealed the last moments in the days preceding his death on Monday, September 26.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, September 27, Senior Counsel John Khaminwa - Gicheru's family lawyer- had revealed that Gicheru was not himself and under stress.
Khaminwa further dismissed widespread media reports which pointed out to poisoning as the cause of his death.
"It appears as if Paul Gicheru was not himself, he was in a stressful condition. That's what I'm able to gather. What I'm reading on social media that he probably ate some food and so on it doesn't appear to be so," he stated.
Veteran Senior Counsel John Khaminwa in court. /STANDARD DIGITAL
He added that the family was waiting for a preliminary report from the police regarding his death as they wait for the post-mortem results.
"The cause of death is not really known because it is being investigated by the police. I have talked to the senior officers who are investigating the death. They were here yesterday.
"The best we can do is not to make reckless allegations. Let us find out what the investigators will come up with. We may decide to have a postmortem to look at the internal organs of his body," he stated.
Khaminwa further praised Gicheru as his personal friend, recounting the moments they shared together after warrants of arrest were issued against him. Prior to his death, he was facing witness interference charges at the International Criminal Court (ICC)
"He would occasionally come to my office and we would have a meal. He liked a meal of ugali made out of sorghum with chicken," he said, adding that the wife was at his Karen home as other relatives continued arriving to comfort her.
Gicheru was found with foam in his mouth according to OB No 54 filed at Karen Police Station. Sources privy to the matter told Viral Tea that the son, who had returned from the United Kingdom (UK), was rushed to a hospital in Nairobi for first aid and is currently recovering.
Meanwhile, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) urged police to expedite investigations into the cause of the lawyer's death.
“We have been informed that the Police visited the home and urge the Inspector General of the National Police Service to ensure that speedy and thorough investigations are conducted into the cause of his death,” said its statement signed by LSK President Eric Theuri
“It is in the public domain that he was facing charges at the International Criminal Court (ICC). It is also in the public domain that several witnesses in the ICC cases have either disappeared or died. There is, therefore, significant public interest in establishing the cause of his death.”
LSK has urged the police to be professional and sensitive as to the broader implications on the rule of law and administration of justice. On their part, the police are pursuing three major leads in the case regarding his demise.
Detectives assigned to the case are conducting forensic toxicology to examine the contents of the food eaten as his lunch, how it was prepared and its source. They are also attempting to establish how many people were around the house by the time Gicheru ate his meal.
Forensic toxicology is a field of science that deals with the investigation and identification of poisonous substances and hazardous chemicals. It also deals with the medical or legal investigation of drug abuse poisoning incidents to ascertain the exact toxic substances.
The detectives are also conducting oral toxicology to determine whether the lawyer ingested poison and the effects it had on him and his son.
Gicheru surrendered to the ICC on November 2, 2020, pursuant to an arrest warrant issued on March 10, 2015, by Pre-Trial Chamber II of the ICC having been accused of offences against the administration of justice by corruptly influencing witnesses of the Court.
The International Criminal Court. /FILE
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