Court bars former KDF officer charged with murder from contacting victim’s family

A Nakuru court has issued interim orders restraining a former Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officer facing a murder charge from harassing, intimidating, threatening, tormenting, or otherwise interfering with the family of the deceased pending the hearing of an application.

Nakuru Senior Principal Magistrate Adet Vincent Okello issued the orders following an urgent application filed by Serah Nyokabi Mugweru, the mother of the late Anita Mugweru. In her application, Nyokabi alleged that the accused, Edwin Muthomi Kaunga, had been threatening and intimidating her family while in custody.

The court further directed the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) at Nakuru Police Station to oversee the enforcement and compliance with the orders.

According to court documents, the applicant claims that several members of her family have received telephone calls from a person identifying himself as Edwin. The calls, allegedly made from prison, are said to contain threats and have left the family living in fear and anxiety as they pursue justice for their slain relative.

The application states that the alleged intimidation has caused significant distress to the family and raises concerns that the conduct may continue unless the court intervenes.

Nyokabi argued that the court's protection was necessary to safeguard her family from further harassment and intimidation during the ongoing criminal proceedings.

The court ordered the applicant to serve the application and the interim orders on the respondent and any interested parties within three days. The respondent was granted 14 days to file a response.

Former Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko was listed as an interested party in the proceedings. Court documents indicate that Sonko has been supporting the deceased's family, including assisting in the care of Baby Talisha, who is said to have witnessed her mother's killing.

The matter is scheduled for an inter partes hearing on July 7, 2026.