A Nakuru court has ordered that Edwin Kaunga, a Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) officer accused of killing his wife, be committed to Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital after a psychiatric evaluation found him unfit to stand trial.
Edwin Kaunga had appeared in court for plea-taking in the murder case of his 29-year-old wife, Annita Mugweru.
However, the proceedings were halted after medical findings showed he was not in a mental state to respond to the charges.
Speaking outside the court, the family’s lawyer, Elizabeth Ochieng, confirmed that the plea was deferred due to the accused’s mental condition. She explained that the court could not proceed with the case as the accused was deemed unfit to take a plea.
“We came for plea taking in the matter of the Republic versus Edwin Muthoni Kaunga, and unfortunately, the plea did not proceed as it was deferred because the accused person was found unfit to take a plea, bearing in mind that he has a mental issue,” said Elizabeth Ochieng.
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The matter is scheduled for mention on June 4, 2026, when the court will review his condition and assess whether he is ready to proceed with the trial.
“He has been referred to Mathari Hospital for treatment, and therefore we will keep checking on the progress based on how he improves and can take plea the second he gets better,” added Elizabeth Ochieng.
In addition, the court granted permission for the accused, through the investigating officer, to collect personal belongings, including identification documents, bank cards, academic certificates, and military regalia.
Edwin Kaunga Detained in Nakuru For Stabbing Wife to Death
This court decision follows the announcement that police had arrested Edwin Kaunga after fatally stabbing his wife in an altercation at their home in Nakuru County.
Police said the incident occurred in the St Mary’s area on April 14, 2026, and resulted in the arrest of the officer, a captain based at Gilgil Military Base.
According to the Nakuru head of the Democratic Criminal Investigation (DCI), Samuel Ngeiwa, the deceased had previously reported to the police that she was receiving death threats from the suspect.
Samuel Ngeiwa said the couple’s house help told them that the deceased, Annita Mugweru, 29, and an accountant, quarreled with her husband, which resulted in her being stabbed in the stomach, fatally injuring her.
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The house girl said the attack happened in full glare of the couple’s four-year-old daughter.
Anita was later rushed to a local hospital, but she was pronounced dead on arrival.
Police were alerted and visited the scene, where they arrested the military officer for further grilling and possible arraignment, as the body of the woman was moved to the mortuary for postmortem.
