A suspect in the murder of human rights lawyer Willie Kimani has rejected a female lawyer allocated him, demanding that he be given a male advocate instead.
Peter Ngugi, while appearing before Lady Justice Jessie Lesiit on Tuesday, rejected the services of lawyer Neilias Kinyori, saying that he is not happy with her representation.
The latter, who is the fifth respondent in the 2016 killing of the lawyer alongside his client Josphat Mwendwa and driver Joseph Muiruri said that she has not been doing her job well.
“My lady I request for a male representative because Mrs Kinyori’s is not representing me properly,” he told the judge.
In response, Justice Lesiit granted the wish, saying that it is within the rights of the accused to choose who represents him in the case.
"The issue of change of advocate is his constitutional right,” said the judge.
This was in response to objections from the prosecution side which argued that the accused is in no position to choose his legal representatives given by the state.
State counsel Nicholus Mutuku also pointed out that his demand is discriminatory against the female gender, an argument that was dismissed by the court.
The other suspects in the case are Frederick Leliman, Sylvia Wanjiku Wanjohi, Leonard Maina Mwangi and Stephen Cheburet.
The four are being represented by lawyer Cliff Ombeta who again skipped court, with the judge being told that he is still unwell.