Dennis Itumbi skips court in DP Ruto a***********n case

Former State House Digital Director Dennis Itumbi failed to show up for a hearing in a case where he is accused of crafting a fake letter that alleged that there was a plan to assassinate Deputy President William Ruto.

Through advocate Mary Waweru who was arguing on behalf of Itumbi's lawyer Kagwe Kigen in the matter, the blogger told the court that he is still unwell.

"It's true we have furnished a discharge summary for the 1st accused (Itumbi). We hereby pray for his attendance today to be dispensed with his personal attendance," Waweru said.

Itumbi and his co-accused Samwel Gateri Wanjiru were in September 2021 found to have a case to answer in the fake Deputy President William Ruto assassination letter.

Milimani Chief Magistrate Martha Mutuku had ruled that the two will have to defend themselves against the charges after the prosecution closed its case.

Appearing before Chief Magistrate Susan Shitubi, the court notified the accused that the matter will be concluded by the trial Magistrate Martha Mutuku who was transferred to Mombasa.

"I can confirm that the proceedings have not been typed and we are making plans for this matter to be concluded by the trial magistrate since the matter is in its final stages," Shitubi said.

The two, who have been linked to the alleged assassination letter involving Ruto had been charged with publishing a false document contrary to the law.

It later emerged that the letter had been drafted at a cyber cafe in Lang’ata area, Nairobi, after police sought services of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).

The letter claimed that there had been an alleged meeting at Hotel La Mada on Thika Road with the DP as the main agenda.

According to the charge sheet, the two, on or before June 20, 2019, published a letter dated May 30, 2019, with intent to cause anxiety to the general public.

The matter will be mentioned on February 17, 2022.