The Directorate of Public Prosecution accused some government officers and Patel farm owners of threatening key witnesses in the case.
An application was filed where the DPP asked for the case to be transferred from Naivasha to Nairobi due to the alleged interferences.
Notably, the state expressed concern over the safety of the prosecution team in the application filed before High court Judge Richard Mwongo in Naivasha.
State counsel Catherine Mwaniki, in an affidavit, accused the management of Patel coffee estate (farm) and WARMA officers of tampering with the scene adding that some of the key witnesses had been transferred and others threatened, with the assistance of the local administration.
Mwaniki stated: "The prosecution team's security, in view of the circumstances, is at high risk. In the interest of justice, we pray that this case is transferred to Nairobi."
The affidavit further accused the local administration of meeting the witnesses noting that Nakuru was not secure areas for the prosecution counsel and the trial court.
During the case, there was a heated exchange of words between lawyer Tom Ojienda - for farm owner Perry Manusukh, and state counsel Alexander Muteti with the former telling the court that on four occasions, the state had failed to provide the defence lawyers with witness statements as ordered.
Ojienda told the court that the case' transfer from Naivasha was meant to escape orders issued by the lower court.
Muteti accused the defence lawyer of misleading the court adding that the ODPP was only seeking transfer orders.
In the case nine suspects are charged with 48 counts of manslaughter, failing to prepare an environmental impact assessment report and neglect of duty.
