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Nyeri governor Mutahi Kahiga and Deputy President-elect Rigathi Gachagua have been given permission by the High Court to withdraw as witnesses in the inquest into the death of former Nyeri governor Wahome Gakuru, 

A magistrate’s court summon dated August 12, 2021 that required the pair to appear alongside the county’s secretary, Benjamin Gachichio and chief of staff Paul Wambugu to testify has been overturned by Justice Florence Muchemi.

Martha Waweru, an attorney for the family of the late governor Gakuru who passed away folllowing a car crash, had requested the court to order the four to appear before the inquiry. 

Attorney Waweru had informed the court that Mr. Gachagua was a person of interest in the inquest because, just prior to Gakuru’s passing, Gakuru’s administration had begun looking into a case of public funds being misused under the administration of Mr. Gachagua’s brother, Nyeri’s first governor, Nderitu Gachagua.

However, Justice Muchemi determined that the testimonies of the four county government officials were not helpful to the inquiry in reaching her verdict. Because the official witnesses’ testimony were not taken into account, she determined that the magistrate had improperly issued the summons.