TRIAL TRACKER
Willie Kimani (Mavoko 3) Trial Timeline
2015
February: Willie Kimani began working at IJM
April 10: Josphat Mwenda and Fredrick leliman have their first altercassion that leaves Mwenda accidentally shot and charged with counts of drug possession, gambling and resisting arrest
December 14: Mwenda is abducted then additionally charged with six more traffic counts
2016
February:
- Willie Kimani convince IJM to take up Josephat Mwenda’s case officially
- Josephat, a co-accused and IJM lawyer Edward are abducted after a court hearing by police officers with regards to a robbery with violence case. After being held for several hours, they were released with no explanation
- IJM writes to IG, IPOA and WPA complaining of Leliman’s misconduct and requesting witness protection for Josephat
March 1: WPA decision on Josephat’s witness protection is pending because he is an accused in the case and not a victim. Therefore the law does not guarantee him protection.
June 23: Josephat, Willie Kimani and driver Joseph are abducted after hearings on the trafiic case as IJM mounts a search
The three men are reported to have been killed at around 10:00pm on 23rd June.
June 30 – July 1: Bodies of the three are found in a river in Oldonyo Sabuk
July 1 – 5: Four police officers are detained in connection with the killings
July 4-8: Lawyers strike and march against Extrajudicial Killings joined by IJM and the Law Society of Kenya
July 8: A memorial service is held for Willie, Josephat and Joseph
July 18: Four Police suspects are formally charged
August 23: The fifth suspect, a civilian is charged
November 10: The trial commences
2017
June:
- First anniversary commemoration
- Community dialogues attended by police representatives are held allowing neighborhoods with a high rate of extra-judicial killings to share experiences
- 68 cases of extrajudicial killings or enforced disappearances are identifies and they later form the basis of a class action suit
- Machozi ya Jana song by Juliani is released to bring attention to police abuse of power
July:
- A petition is submitted by IJM with demands to the president of Kenya to “Secure justice for three, and safety for all.
- Over 40,000 sign the petition which specifically asks for the removal of the Deputy Inspector General in charge of Administration Police
August: Missing Voices is launched to compile and share data on police killings and disappearances
2018
January: The Deputy Inspector General is removed as the petition requested
September: The President of Kenya announces far reaching reforms, including streamlining of the police command structure to allow greater oversight and accountability
December: Members of the Police Reform Working Group including IJM, are invited to give their views on the reforms
2020
2019 December: Conviction of a police officer responsible for beating Martin Koome to death.
June 8: Decision to charge guidelines released. This will protect victims like Josephat against charges brought by police that lack evidence
October: In response to the class action suit, the court orders the Inspector General to investigate police killings that occurred between 2014 – 2017
2021
September: Prosecution case is closed and the Judge rules defense has a case to answer
December: Defense case is closed
2022
July: VERDICT
