Kilifi: Sombre Mood As Requiem Mass Of Slain County Officer Is Held Ahead Of Burial

• The late Karisa Rahab's final journey took off on Thursday, July 27, a week after she was murdered in cold blood
• Until her death, the mother of two was a member of the Kilifi county executive committee in charge of the Fisheries and Blue Economy docket
• Governor Gideon Mung'aro led the Kaloleni locals in paying homage to one of their own who is set to be laid to rest at her matrimonial home in Nandi county

Kilifi county - The requiem mass for the late Karisa Rahab was held on Thursday, July 27, at her native home in Mwanamwinga in Kaloleni.

Karisa succumbed to stab injuries on July 20 following an attack by her domestic help, who is currently detained by the state.

To lead the locals in paying homage to the deceased were Kilifi governor Gideon Mung'aro and other local leaders.

Sombre mood in Kilifi

By the time of her demise, Karisa was the chief officer in charge of Fisheries Blue Economy under the Livestock Development and Agriculture docket.

Mourners endured grief as they gathered to pay their last respects to the late Karisa, who is survived by her husband Maxwell Mmera and their two children.

Mmera once again explained how his wife's death had taken a toll on himself and their children but vowed to soldier on despite the irreversible loss.

"They (children) are so innocent, they lay so much trust on Papa to make it right, to clear their fears and keep them safe. I will do it for you, my sons, always and forever - I choose you and your well-being, growth and prosperity first.

Louis is asking endless questions, and yes, he deserves them. I am going to give them all to him. Grateful that I was able to break it down to him about the fact and what it means to him and Azzy. That he can trust me and tell me his fears and his opinions, I thank God. I appreciate the Child Psychologist who helped my son deal with part of the trauma so far," he said.

Murder suspect arraigned

Meanwhile, Diana Naliaka, the suspect in Rahab's murder, was arraigned on the same day.

Appearing before Kilifi Senior Principal Magistrate Justus Kituku, the househelp shocked the court after she admitted to killing her boss.

The magistrate had asked the suspect if she understood the application made by the prosecution, and in the process of answering, she admitted to stabbing the former Kilifi county chief officer.

"We had a misunderstanding after I asked her for my money. She had just returned from outside the country. I killed her but I did not intend to," Naliaka said.

However, the magistrate interjected her, asking her not to go into the details of the case at this particular stage.

"Let us not go to the details of what happened. I just wanted to know if you understood the request by the prosecution," Kituku said.

Kituku ordered that the suspect be detained at the Kilifi police station for 14 days to allow for investigations.

The prosecution had requested more time to complete their investigations, including establishing the suspect's real identity.

The registration ordered the case to be mentioned on August 17 for further directions.

"Detectives are yet to grill the suspect following her arrival in the area where the crime is alleged to have occurred. We are also yet to record statements from key witnesses and complete the investigations," the prosecution told the court.

It was earlier alleged that the bone of contention between Rahab and her house help that led to the death of the former was stolen money.

Rahab's lifeless body was found in a pool of blood with stab wounds, with a knife on the side, pointing to murder.

According to Mmera, their domestic worker was aggrieved after being confronted over the missing money.