A 13-year-old boy has been included among nine witnesses lined up by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to testify in a High Court case, where a 26-year-old Community Health Volunteer is charged with the alleged murder of his 17-year-old orphaned niece, Safiya Hussein Bilal.
The minor witness is expected to give testimony under special protection measures to prove the prosecution’s case.
In an ODPP press release on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, Justice John Onyiego directed that the child witness be presented before him later in the day.
This child witness’s prioritisation aligns with resolutions made by the local Court Users Committee.
In this case, the defence raised an objection seeking to stop the accused from taking a plea, citing a mental assessment report that indicated that the accused person’s abuse of khat exposed him to a mild form of mental psychopathology.
As such, the defence urged the court to defer the plea and order a second mental assessment.
However, the Principal Prosecution Counsel, Bernard Owuor, opposed the objection, stating that the initial mental assessment concluded the accused was fit to stand trial, as he understood the nature of the charge facing him.
“The condition does not interfere with his mental status and does not affect his capacity to stand trial,” the prosecution told the court.
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Pleading not guilty, the accused further demonstrated his mental capacity when the court inquired into his professional and family background and whether he understood the reason for his arraignment in court.
“I am a community health worker and a father of two, including a minor who is yet to start schooling,” detailed the accused.
The court agreed with the prosecution’s position, noting that the accused had coherently responded to questions about his background, profession, and family when addressed by the judge.
The case is set to continue, with the High Court scheduled to hear evidence from witnesses, including the protected minor.
