By Chanzu Ali / Benson Njoroge
The murder investigation of former IEBC official Aisha Akinyi Abubakar, who was killed at her home in Utange, Mombasa County, last year, has taken a fresh turn after detectives linked her former husband, Mbaruk Ayub Mbaruk, to the case.
Appearing before the Shanzu Law Courts, Deputy DCI officer Geoffrey Tabo of Mjambere Police Station in Kisauni Sub-county told the court that investigators had recovered and confiscated Mbaruk’s mobile phone. According to the officer, preliminary investigations revealed messages allegedly linking Mbaruk to two murder suspects who were arrested earlier in connection with Aisha’s killing.
The prosecution informed the court that the recovered phone contains messages and audio recordings believed to be relevant to the ongoing investigation. Detectives requested that Mbaruk be detained for 21 days to allow forensic experts sufficient time to analyse the phone, messages, and audio recordings as they continue gathering evidence.
However, the Shanzu Law Court granted investigators 14 days to complete the investigations instead of the requested 21 days. Mbaruk is expected to appear before Court Number Four after the detention period, where the court will determine whether he should be released on bond or cash bail pending further investigations.
In a separate matter, investigators also told the court that Mbaruk has allegedly been on the run for the past six months in connection with a land fraud case in Utange. Detectives claim he has been sought by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations over allegations of obtaining approximately KSh 5 million from Ibrahim Hassim Amir through fraudulent means.
Additionally, community representative Erick Nyale Mwangemi has accused Mbaruk of allegedly grabbing land belonging to members of the local community, claims that form part of ongoing investigations.
The court emphasised that investigations into both the murder case and the alleged land fraud are still ongoing. Mbaruk has not been convicted of any offence, and he remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Authorities say forensic analysis of the confiscated phone is expected to play a key role in determining the next course of the murder investigation.
