A senior advocate of the High Court, Lawyer James Onchiri Nyaata, was found dead after being accidentally crushed by his car outside the Kajiado Law Courts. Witnesses reported that his body was discovered under the vehicle, exhibiting visible head injuries, following the incident on October 21. Preliminary investigations revealed that Nyaata was last seen in a bar located opposite the Kajiado Law Courts.
According to police, they revisited the scene and reviewed CCTV footage that captured the moments leading up to his death. The footage showed Nyaata drinking in a bar adjacent to the Judiciary. At around 9:26 PM, he was seen being assisted by three individuals who placed him next to his vehicle at the rear. He was then left with his messenger, who was responsible for taking him home.
Unfortunately, the CCTV footage indicated that the messenger entered Nyaata’s vehicle and reversed it, inadvertently running over the lawyer and crushing his head. The driver failed to report the incident and fled the scene after realizing what had happened. He was later apprehended along with the four others who had been with Nyaata at the bar. The police presented them in court and requested custodial orders to remand them at Kajiado police station to aid in the investigation.
This development quelled earlier concerns that Nyaata had been murdered. The police stated they have the right suspects in custody and are optimistic about resolving the case soon. The body was taken to a local mortuary for further investigation and autopsy. The family of the deceased and his colleagues have called for justice in the matter.
