Ten cops to face murder charges over Masimba killings
Ten police officers, including their commander, are set to be arraigned in court for the killing of four demonstrators in Kajiado County on June 2.
The police are accused of opening fire on the protestors who had barricaded the Mombasa-Nairobi Highway, to demand a solution to an increase in human-wildlife conflict in the Masimba area.
A police report said the protests turned ugly when demonstrators hurled stones at a GSU lorry during the incident that also saw several people injured.On Friday, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) gave the go-ahead for their prosecution following investigations by the Independent Policing and Oversight Authority (IPOA).
The ten include Inspector of Police Cornelio Nabwera, Corporal ZakayoKipterio, and Police Constables Kasim Nunow, Hoseah Chikara, Mohammed Adan, Wambua Kilonzo, Wesley Kipkorir, Boaz Mogire, John Mwangi and Desmond Musyoka.
They were taken into custody on Friday and are being held at the Kibra Police station awaiting arraignment. “The totality of evidence on record suggests that the GSU officers were culpable for the offence of murder contrary to section 203 as read with 204 of the penal code. Additionally, the officers are culpable for causing grievous harm contrary to section 234 of the penal code,” a letter from the ODPP said.
“We concur with the Authority that the use of force by the GSU officers against the demonstrators was not only unlawful but was also unjustified. Therefore, we direct that the officers be charged accordingly.”
Investigations revealed that the officers, who were travelling to Mombasa from Nairobi, fired a total of 40 rounds of ammunition before making through the barricades erected by the protesters and driving off.
Missing Voices welcomes the arrest of the 10 police officers and reiterates its call for them to be prosecuted in accordance with Kenyan laws.We hope the process can lead to justice for the families of the victims of the police killings.
We commend the ODPP for taking a proactive approach in dealing with cases of police brutality, and hope that this can be sustained until such crimes are eradicated.
