The Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) has confirmed that a case where a Nyeri billionaire was charged with murdering his son would continue despite his death.
According to court documents, the DPP dropped the charges against the late Stephen Wang'ondu after receiving the official statement from Outspan hospital in Nyeri confirming the tycoon's death.
Wang'ondu faced the charges alongside four other suspects who he allegedly paid to kill his son Daniel Mwangi.
State Counsel Duncan Ondimu affirmed that the state would proceed with the case against the other suspects.
At the request of Wangondu's lawyer Mahugu Mbarire, Judge Florence Muchemi ordered the release of the deceased businessman's surety.
The judge also ordered the release of the billionaire's Toyota Prado to one of his sons, David Mworia on condition that he would not dispose of the car until the case was determined.
The prosecutor, however, noted that one of the accused was turned into a state witness and would testify against the other suspects.
The case is set to be mentioned in June 2021. Wang'ondu made headlines after he was arrested on Wednesday, February 24, and accused of hiring hitmen to kill his son.
According to the detectives, the businessman had paid the hitmen a total of Ksh160,000 in order to carry out the murder.
One of the suspects in the case also revealed that the businessman had been embroiled in a love affair with his son's wife which might have caused some dissension between the two.
Apart from jealousy, detectives indicated that Mwangi's father was keen to collect millions of shillings for a life insurance cover that his son had taken.
Mwangi was found dead on January 1 in his hometown in Mweiga. This led to investigations from police officers who sought to determine the motive behind his demise.
Further, protests from Nyeri residents ensued after Mwangi's death as they demanded police officers to dispense justice and ensure the perpetrators are brought to book.
