Cold blood murder by rogue Kenyan police officers

EXECUTIONS

FEBRUARY 25, 2010

BY EUGENE OMILO

Human rights groups and relatives of the five men allegedly executed by police officers on Friday have asked the police force to come clear and explain what exactly led to the brutal death of the young men.

The five, Bernard Irungu, Stephen Wambaki, Peter Macharia, Peter Mathenge and Juma Khamis were arrested on the evening of February 18 at Likoni area in Mombasa then taken to the local Likoni police station where they were held until noon the following day before police took them away only to announce later that they have been killed in a shootout.

While speaking in Mombasa yesterday after displaying some of the cartridges discovered at the scene, Muhuri’s executive director Hussein Khalid, Caleb N’gwena of Genesis for Human Rights and Hassan Greeve of the Prepared society said the officers involved should be suspended from the force and charged with murder.

The relatives of the five were overcome with grief with some bursting into tears while they recounted the last days with the young men one of whom was a cripple.

“We are saddened that police officers can shoot a man on crutches at such close range,” said Leonard Gikathi, a brother to one of the deceased.

In his press briefings on February 19, Mombasa deputy police boss Joseph Muthee had declined to confirm the incident referring reporters to the PPO but later said the five had been killed in a shoot out.

Hassan Greeve who was a former police officer said the cartridges at the scene of the accident in Likoni recovered are always used with the G3 riffle, FN and Liay guns, all of which are used in firing long ranges yet the police shot the five at close range.

The activists said a post mortem exam will be done today (Friday) at the Coast general hospital mortuary where the bodies are lying.

Follow Up....

It is understood too that in mid March 2010, Muthee and the OCS Likoni had been summonned by their bosses at Vigilance House in Nairobi where it is believed they were questioned about the Killings.

On their return back to work on March 17, 2010, the duo was shocked to meet a battery of journalists relaxing in a South Coast restaurant where they were also holding an informal meeting.

The two who were immaculately dressed in their ceremonial uniforms immediately left in a huff as they seemingly looked uneasy with the presence of members of the fourth estate. 

ENDS…