The family lawyer of the late Paul Gicheru, John Khaminwa, has clarified that he is yet to inform the International Criminal Court (ICC) about the passing on of the former suspect.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke on Monday, October 10, Dr Khaminwa stated that the mandate to formally notify the ICC of Gicheru's death lay with Attorney- General Kihara Kariuki.
The lawyer pointed out he was only his domestic lawyer and that he was unaware whether his advocate at the international court, Michael Karnavas had communicated to the Hague.
"From my understanding, the ICC has not reached out to the family. It is the Attorney General who is legally obliged to inform the ICC that Gicheru died and give the results of the autopsy," Khaminwa stated.
The legal representative added that based on the results of the autopsy, the ICC may decide whether or not to conduct its own independent probe into the matter.
However, Khaminwa disclosed that the family had unanimously agreed that there was no foul play in the untimely death of the lawyer. He termed it as natural, linking it to underlying medical conditions.
"The autopsy ruled out poisoning. As stated earlier, my client was diabetic and was under immense stress because of the ICC case, which may have affected to health," the senior advocate stated.
He added that the deceased's son who had been admitted in hospital had since been discharged with a clean bill of health. All family members were present in the funeral.
Gicheru, who was found dead in his Karen home was laid to rest on October 6 in his Nakuru home. President William Ruto sent a condolense message to the family and eulogised Gicheru as an adept lawyer.
"We have lost an indebted lawyer who made a contribution to people's progression. Paul Gicheru Njoroge was a fine legal mind and a master of equal justice," read the message delivered by Mt Kenya University founder Simon Gicharu.
Earlier, Azimio party leader Raila Odinga raised questions over the lawyer's death, calling for the Interpol to probe the matter. He linked the demise to a spate of mysterious deaths or disappearance of ICC witnesses over the last few years.
According to investigating agencies, the postmortem conducted returned inconclusive results.
