NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 15 - A couple accused of killing their two year-old son last month appeared in court on Monday to face murder charges.

Thomas Muthui Nzii and Susan Itolundu Wanjala did not however answer to the charges as their lawyer Kirathe Wandugi had not been issued with the case file.

They are accused of jointly murdering Walter Odera Odhiambo on February 23 in Nairobi’s South B estate.

Justice Jessie Lessit ordered they be produced in court on Thursday to plead to the accusations. 

The couple was arrested following a court order that they be investigated on claims of abuse after the Children's department raised suspicions that Master Odhiambo might have been tortured.

Before he died, two hospitals which treated him raised questions about the nature of his injuries, prompting the Children's department to get involved in the matter.

An autopsy conducted on the body by two different hospitals confirmed that a head injury that caused internal bleeding killed him.

Separately, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights has been directed to respond to a suit filed against it by Agriculture Minister William Ruto linking him with the post election violence.

Judge Roselyn Wendoh directed the Commission to respond within 21 days to Mr Ruto's case.

Lawyer Katwa Kigen who is representing the Agriculture Minister was given seven days to reply to (KNCHR) submissions.

The matter will be mentioned on June 22 for directions. Mr Ruto is contesting a report compiled by the human rights body on what transpired before and after the violence, which alleges he was one of the masterminds of the chaos that killed an estimated 1,500 people and displaced hundreds of thousands others.

He wants paragraphs which mention him as having planned, incited and financed the chaos expunged from the report arguing the conclusions and decisions drawn by the Commission were made in a situation where the body became both the prosecutor and a judge.

Part of the report accuses Mr Ruto of having participated in a meeting in Kipkelion, Kericho on unknown date in August 2007 at which a resolution was allegedly reached to carry out evictions in Rift Valley.

He is alleged to have said alien communities should be uprooted from the region.

Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta has also filed a similar application where he is seeking to have his name expunged from the report.