According to testimony given in court in Nairobi, Jeff Mwathi attempted suicide twice before his death on February 23.
Jeff’s uncle Muchoki Mwathi denied claims that Jeff committed suicide on the stand on Thursday.
Muchoki’s testimony was guided by attorney Danstan Omari.
He insisted that, in addition to being his uncle, the Jeff he knew was also a very good friend of mine.
“From the video, I saw Jeff’s body was discovered after Fatxo left an hour or so later. As a family we have lost a son who had a bright future ahead of him,” Muchoki testified before Milimani principal magistrate Zainab Abdul.
Attorney Duncan Okatch for Fatxo attempted to convince the judge that Jeff was suicidal as a result of his parents’ strained relationship.
Muchoki claimed he didn’t think it had any impact on him.
The attorney continued by saying that there are witnesses who will attest that Jeff wanted to end his life because of the contentious relationship between his parents.
Muchoki claimed that while he was unaware of Jeff’s friendship with DJ Fatxo, he did once inform the latter that they were meant to work together to design a shop after Fatxo had given him the task.
“I was told that Jeff died in Fatxo’s house but in my opinion, he could not have jumped from the window unless he was forced through,”
Muchoki continued to testify before the court, saying that when he visited Fatxo’s home, no one from the crime scene had taken up residence there.
“I was shown the video and in my view, Jeff did not commit suicide,”
He claimed that in the past, Jeff would become anxious, especially after drinking, and would carry a knife and make suicide threats.
Since he was never stressed, Muchoki claimed it was a falsehood.
Okatch emphasized that at the time of his death, Jeff was lacking even a belt and his undergarments.
Muchoki said in court that he first resided in the village with his nephew Jeff before moving to Nairobi to live with his younger brother John Kirumba.
“On February 22, 2023, I got a phone call from John at around 5:20pm informing me that he was tensed because Jeff was not answering calls, he told me that he was called by Jeff’s girlfriend Faith Wairimu telling him that she was called by Faith Mutanu asking her if Jeff got home”
Faith, Jeff’s girlfriend, had inquired as to what to do after failing to locate Jeff at home.
Later, he learned that he had passed away at Lawrence Njuguna’s (DJ Fatxo) home. The victims in this case are being represented by attorney Charles Mugane.
34 additional witnesses will be called by the state to testify at the inquest.
On November 1, the hearing will go on.
