Murder at Crooked Q Restaurant

Like all international cities, Nairobi is a strange place after the fall of the sun. It is a place where different human beings within our society come out from their homes, hiding places, offices and place of work in order to continue with their unfinished businesses. Thugs, robbers, murderers, petty thieves also come out from their hiding places in order to interfere and disturb the peace and serenity of this beautiful city.

A few kilometers away, the animals in Nairobi National Park also come out from their hiding places. It is a city that sustains the nocturnal activities of both human and wild animals. It has several landmark and less known facilities which different groups visit in order to quench their thirst for water. The wild animals in the National Park visit the watering points while the human beings go to restaurants and bars in order to quench their thirst.

The incident subject of this blog started at a place called Crooked ‘Q’ in Westlands area. It is not an ordinary place where normal business is carried out. It is a place where beer and other alcoholic drinks are consumed by special members or class of our society. As the name connotes the events of 23rd and 24th January 2009 were crooked. The queue started from the said club until it ended in Westlands roundabout next to Sarit Centre resulting in the death of one James Ng’ang’a Muiruri, the son of fomer Gatundu North Member of Parliament Patrick Kariuki Muiruri.

Perhaps it is also important to mention the events involved police officers who shot the deceased in that case. This restaurant is named the ‘CROOKED Q’ because of the crooked cue used in there to play a game of Pool or Snooker. As the name sounds, the activities and the business carried out therein may be twisted out of shape or position in order to accommodate the class or the group that frequents the said restaurant.

It appears that the place has a long history because the persons who patronize the said club are from the affluent members of our society. In their quest to satisfy their social needs and drinking habits, there is a tendency to suffer from the aftermath of the events or circumstances that is largely contributed by the nature of the business carried out therein.

Now, it appears that the events that may have started inside the restaurant must end up in court for determination. The question here involves murder. It is contended that simple and straightforward issues which started inside Crooked Q resulted in the death of the deceased. The question is who is responsible for the death of the deceased which occurred on the nights of 23rd and 24th January 2009. Two accused persons are charged with the offence of murder contrary to section 203 as read with section 204 of the Penal Code.

The particulars are;

Dickson Mwangi Munene and Alex Chepkonga Francis on the 24th day of January, 2009 at Westlands in Nairobi within Nairobi Area Province, jointly murdered James Ng’ang’a Muiruri”.

O n the night of 23rd and 24th January 2009 James Ng’ang’a was at Crooked Q Bar and Restaurant together with his brother and Jedidah Okudo where they were drinking alcoholic beverages. There was also another group composed of five men who were also in the same restaurant partaking alcoholic drinks amongst other things.The prominent members of the other group were the 2nd accused and Mr. Sagini.

At around 7:00 am, Mark Sagini was having at drink at the counter when James Ng’ang’a walked upto him asked whether he was gay. Feeling offended, Mark Sagini pursued James who was already leaving the scene. A confrontation ensued. James Ng’ang’a wasn’t done with his mischevious character. He insulted another patron (a friend to Sagini) by telling him he is too poor to afford beer. Mr. Sagani’s entourage joined the fracas which led to the whole group being thrown out of the club by the bouncer, Mr. John Gachara Muiruri.

Unknown to James Ng’ang’a, the infuriated entourage of Mr. Mark Sagini was waiting to avenge the disrespect shown to them outside the club. On his way out, the 2nd accused (Alex Chepkonga) confronted James Ng’ang’a, another scuffle broke out which led to James Ng’ang’a punching the second accussed in the face. At this point, James’ brother went to bring a car to drive him home, meanwhile, Alex Chepokonga made a phone call to his favorite cop, the first accused (Dickson Munene) to come and beef up his side of the tussle.

Earlier in the night, Alex Chepkonga and Dickson Munene spent a good time at Florida night club before spliting ways at around 4:00 am at Mobile Petrol Station in Westlands. Dickson responded to his friend’s distress call and drove to the club. On reaching the parking lot he found Alex in an altercation with James. He tried to hit James while he was getting into his brother’s car but the bouncers restrained him. Alex proceeded to howl the name of Munene.

Lucky to him, Munene was on the scene in his car. He responded to the growl and joined Alex in the fight. By this time, James had gotten into the car and his brother sped off. The bouncers restrained Alex when he made an attempt to follow James. Munene, on the other hand was not restrained, he jumped into his car and followed the car driving James Ng’ang’a. At the intersection on Sarit Centre, Mr. Munene overtook the car and blocked it from infront. When the driver (James’ brother) tried to reverse he realised he was also blocked from behind.

Mr. Sagini and the 2nd accused (Alex Chepkonga) came from the car behind and assaulted James Ng’ang’a who had come out of the car. Dickson Munene exited his car and threw handcuffs to James Ng’ang’a and asked him to cuff himself. He declined, then Munene proceeded to point his Belgian made Browning pistol to James. Without hesistation, he fired three shots at him, two of the shots were lethal — one splintered James’ liver, the other shattered his Jaw.

Immediately after that, Munene and his group hurriedly left the scene in their car. James was rushed to MP Shah hospital by his brother and a good samaritan where he was pronounced dead on arrival. After several hours Mr. Munene reported to Buru Buru police station far from his station in Kilimani. He claimed he had shot a suspect who had resisted arrest.

These particular details were brought before Judge Mohammed Abdullahi Warsame at Nairobi Milimani Law Courts were he found Dickson Mwangi Munene and Alex Chepkonga Francis guilty of murder and sentenced them to death.

-Criminal Case 11 of 2009 High Court of Nairobi (Milimani Law Courts)

Read more on Predicting Murder Cases in Kenya here: http://blackorwa.com/2017/03/31/predicting-murder-cases-in-kenya/