Nyeri Principal Magistrate Arrested for Reportedly Hiring Killers to Eliminate Her Husband

Senior Principal Magistrate Pauline Omungala has been arrested in connection with the murder of her husband Robert Chesang’.

Chesang', a lawyer, was shot seven times by unknown gunmen who raided their home in Lukenya on February 17th.

Magistrate Omungala, who is based at the Nyeri law courts, was arrested on Sunday after she was summoned to Athi River Police Station.

Detectives say the motive of the murder appears to be domestic violence occasioned by the tussle for properties.

"The wife felt that being a magistrate, she was being embarrassed by the cases being handled in courts,” a senior police officer told the Daily Nation.

Investigations reveal that Chesang' was fearing for his life and had not left the house for two days prior to his murder.

In one of the court cases where Chesang’ was seeking protection against domestic violence, the lawyer accused his wife of forcing him to move out of the house. 

He claimed that his wife was using police officers to harass and intimidate him.

“From August 17 to date, I’ve lost all that I’ve acquired progressively since I started married life due to illegal actions of the respondents. I have technically lost the house, the cars, and all my earthly belongings,” Chesang’ states in court documents.

Three other suspects including two police officers and a retired officer have been arrested in connection with the murder of the lawyer.

Detectives say they have strong evidence linking the officers to the killing.

Investigators say they have established that Ms. Omungala offered the killers Sh181,000 to eliminate Chesang.

“One officer has confessed he pulled the trigger. They were sent by one of the suspects in custody to eliminate Chesang after being duped that he was a criminal,” says the officer who requested anonymity.