The owner of a bar that sold illicit brew which killed 17 people in Kirinyaga County has been charged with murder alongside four police officers and two other individuals.

Appearing before Kerugoya High Court judge Justice Richard Mwongo on Thursday, the seven suspects pleaded not guilty.

They include; California bar owner John Muriithi, his brother Anthony Muthee, owner of Muiguru bar Lydiah Wanjiru, police officers Francis Mutethia, Allan Kimanzi, Brian Kariuki and former Kiamaciri commanding station officer Kennedy Mugambi.

The first suspect John Muriithi was denied bail following an application by the prosecution team led by Jane Maari who argued that local residents and relatives of the 17 people who passed on are still bitter with him despite his lawyer Kemunto Magara saying he cannot run away since he is a known resident of Kangai village.

“'The circumstances surrounding this case are that on the 6th day of February 2024, several mysterious deaths were reported at Kangai and Kandongu areas where a total of 17 people died and 14 others survived after they underwent treatment but left with permanent scars (blindness) and after investigations it was discovered that the victims consumed brew sold by John Muriithi and Lydia Wanjiru in their bars known as California at Kangai and Muguiru bar at Kandongu,” submitted the prosecution.

The seven were first arraigned on March 7th where the prosecution was granted an application to detain them pending the conclusion of investigations and mental assessment before charging them with murder.

Police officers Francis Muteithia, Brian Kariuki, and Kennedy Mugambi were released on a bond of Ksh.1 million while their colleague Allan Kyalo was granted a Ksh.500,000 bond after his lawyer Nyaga Gitari argued that he had served in the police force for only one year and he is an orphan.

Lydiah Wanjiru, the owner of Muiguiru bar in Kandongu area who is being held at the Embu Women GK prison, was granted a bond of Ksh.800,000 while Anthony Muthee, the brother to the owner of California bar, was released on a Ksh.1 million bond.

John Muriithi, the owner of the California bar, will remain in custody until April 11th when his bail application will be heard.

Justice Mwongo warned the accused against interfering with investigations ordering them to be reporting at DCI offices at Kiamaciri Police Station as ordered by the court.

The case will be mentioned on 11th May 2024.

The 17 people who died after consuming the deadly liquor at Kangai and Kandongu villages in Mwea-West Sub-County, Kirinyaga County were buried on February 17.

Investigations uncovered that the alcohol consumed by the 17 individuals and several others who lost their eyesight was confiscated liquor stored at the Kiamaciri police station as exhibit.

The lethal brew is reportedly said to have been stored at the station before four rogue officers allegedly sold it to a member of the community. The four officers were subsequently arrested and arraigned at the Baricho Law Courts.