Suspect in murder of West Pokot procurement officer charged

Kevin Wakaba, the prime suspect in the murder of slain West Pokot procurement officer Ekidor Ekure six months ago, has been charged with murder at the High Court in Eldoret.

Appearing before Justice Martha Mutuku, the middle-aged man pleaded not guilty to the murder charge levelled against him.

The slain regional government procurement officer met his death while strolling on foot after a daylong workshop he was attending at a two-star hotel located near the scene of crime along the busy Eldoret-Kapsabet road.

The deceased was part of a team of senior county government employees who had been booked at the hotel for a week-long training forum.

The accused pleaded with the Judge to free him on a reasonable bond or cash bail terms, arguing that he was not a flight risk.

Two of his accomplices connected to the brutal murder incident are still at large.

During the operation, officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) unit at Langas police station managed to seize the suspect from his hideout and recovered a mobile phone belonging to the deceased.

The phone is among the exhibits the prosecution intends to use against the suspect at trial, scheduled for November 9 and 10, 2026.

According to prosecutor Sylvester Thuo, ten key witnesses have been lined up to support their case during the proceedings.

In her ruling, Justice Mutuku ordered that the suspect be escorted to Eldoret GK. remanded to prison pending the hearing and determination of his murder case.

The matter is set for mention on July 9, when she will give further directions.