{UAH} Willie Kimani: Missing Kenyan lawyer found dead
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WBK/Moses Nekyon/Edward P'Ojim,
The extent of police brutality iin Kenya is shocking. It seems Jomo
Kenhtatta's government is intent on kueping a killer squad within the
Kenyan police, acting as some sort of lethal killing blade at the
behest of his ruling clique. This is a very slippery road to walk down
on, as we can see in Uganda where we don't have a police force any
more.
Bobby
Willie Kimani: Missing Kenyan lawyer found dead
1 July
Willie Kimani went missing after leaving court just over a week ago
The body of a Kenyan lawyer who was representing a client making a
complaint against the police has been found.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) said Willie Kimani's death was a "dark
day for the rule of law in Kenya".
Kenya's police have often been accused of brutality and they have been
blamed for a series of extrajudicial killings.
The police chief has ordered the arrest of three police officers
suspected of being involved in his kidnapping.
■Africa Live: More on this and other news stories
■Disputes rage over Nairobi police killings
Mr Kimani, who was 32, went missing along with his taxi driver and
client after a court appointment over a week ago, the LSK said.
One other body has been found but there are conflicting reports as to
who this is.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kenyans and their police: By Nancy Kacingura, BBC News, Nairobi
The relationship between Kenyans and their police force has always
been an uneasy one.
Just a week ago, the National Police Service spokesperson came out to
ask Kenyans to change their perception of the police.
He said he had noted that "there is pervading fear among the public as
they believe that law enforcers are working with criminals".
He's not wrong. Many victims of crime would rather forsake justice
than go through the process of dealing with the police. It is largely
seen as a fruitless and frustrating endeavour.
The police service has worked to improve its image over the past 10
years - changing its name, vetting its officers, instituting community
policing and establishing gender and children desks.
But it appears that the more recent incidents of police beating
protesters at a demonstration, and a wave of controversial killings,
are still sending the Kenyan public a much louder message.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A police source told the BBC that the two bodies had been found on the
bank of a river 70km (43 miles) north-east of Nairobi.
Mr Kimani's body was found bound and wrapped in a sack, reports AFP news agency.
A search is ongoing at the site to find the third body, Kenya's
Standard newspaper reports.
On Thursday, the inspector general of the national police service
George Kinoti said that investigations would be pursued.
"In the event that a crime is disclosed linking any person, whether
police officer or otherwise, the law will doubtless take its own
course," he said in a statement.
Mr Kimani was working for the International Justice Mission, a US
legal charity which focuses on cases of police abuse of power.
He had been representing his client in a complaint against a police
officer who had allegedly shot him during a traffic stop in 2015.
LSK says this is the first time that a lawyer working on a sensitive
case has gone missing.
However, LSK head Isaac Okero told the BBC's Mohammud Ali in Nairobi
that the incident suggests "lawyers are becoming a target because of
their work".
In 2011 a Kenyan human rights lawyer accused the Kenyan government of
framing him for a bombing to get back at him for defending victims of
extraordinary rendition.
Kenyan security forces carried out 25 extrajudicial killing between
2013 and 2015, Kenya's official rights body said.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
High-profile extrajudicial killings in Kenya:
Police said about at least 10 bullets were fired at Jacob Juma's Mercedes car
■In May 2016 Businessman Jacob Juma was shot dead while driving home.
He had been involved in several high-profile legal cases against the
government over failed business deals
■In October 2013 Muslim cleric Ibrahim "Rogo" Omar was shot dead while
driving home. Mr Rogo was alleged to have links with Islamist
militants al-Shabab
■In August 2012 Muslim cleric Aboud Rogo Mohammed was killed in a
drive-by shooting. He was from the same mosque as Mr Omar and was also
accused of backing al-Shabab
■In March 2009 human rights activist Oscar Kamau Kingara, who
investigated extrajudicial killings, was shot dead in his car shot as
he drove home.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
Disclaimer:Everyone posting to this Forum bears the sole responsibility for any legal consequences of his or her postings, and hence statements and facts must be presented responsibly. Your continued membership signifies that you agree to this disclaimer and pledge to abide by our Rules and Guidelines.To unsubscribe from this group, send email to: ugandans-at-heart+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
The extent of police brutality iin Kenya is shocking. It seems Jomo
Kenhtatta's government is intent on kueping a killer squad within the
Kenyan police, acting as some sort of lethal killing blade at the
behest of his ruling clique. This is a very slippery road to walk down
on, as we can see in Uganda where we don't have a police force any
more.
Bobby
Willie Kimani: Missing Kenyan lawyer found dead
1 July
Willie Kimani went missing after leaving court just over a week ago
The body of a Kenyan lawyer who was representing a client making a
complaint against the police has been found.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) said Willie Kimani's death was a "dark
day for the rule of law in Kenya".
Kenya's police have often been accused of brutality and they have been
blamed for a series of extrajudicial killings.
The police chief has ordered the arrest of three police officers
suspected of being involved in his kidnapping.
■Africa Live: More on this and other news stories
■Disputes rage over Nairobi police killings
Mr Kimani, who was 32, went missing along with his taxi driver and
client after a court appointment over a week ago, the LSK said.
One other body has been found but there are conflicting reports as to
who this is.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kenyans and their police: By Nancy Kacingura, BBC News, Nairobi
The relationship between Kenyans and their police force has always
been an uneasy one.
Just a week ago, the National Police Service spokesperson came out to
ask Kenyans to change their perception of the police.
He said he had noted that "there is pervading fear among the public as
they believe that law enforcers are working with criminals".
He's not wrong. Many victims of crime would rather forsake justice
than go through the process of dealing with the police. It is largely
seen as a fruitless and frustrating endeavour.
The police service has worked to improve its image over the past 10
years - changing its name, vetting its officers, instituting community
policing and establishing gender and children desks.
But it appears that the more recent incidents of police beating
protesters at a demonstration, and a wave of controversial killings,
are still sending the Kenyan public a much louder message.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A police source told the BBC that the two bodies had been found on the
bank of a river 70km (43 miles) north-east of Nairobi.
Mr Kimani's body was found bound and wrapped in a sack, reports AFP news agency.
A search is ongoing at the site to find the third body, Kenya's
Standard newspaper reports.
On Thursday, the inspector general of the national police service
George Kinoti said that investigations would be pursued.
"In the event that a crime is disclosed linking any person, whether
police officer or otherwise, the law will doubtless take its own
course," he said in a statement.
Mr Kimani was working for the International Justice Mission, a US
legal charity which focuses on cases of police abuse of power.
He had been representing his client in a complaint against a police
officer who had allegedly shot him during a traffic stop in 2015.
LSK says this is the first time that a lawyer working on a sensitive
case has gone missing.
However, LSK head Isaac Okero told the BBC's Mohammud Ali in Nairobi
that the incident suggests "lawyers are becoming a target because of
their work".
In 2011 a Kenyan human rights lawyer accused the Kenyan government of
framing him for a bombing to get back at him for defending victims of
extraordinary rendition.
Kenyan security forces carried out 25 extrajudicial killing between
2013 and 2015, Kenya's official rights body said.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
High-profile extrajudicial killings in Kenya:
Police said about at least 10 bullets were fired at Jacob Juma's Mercedes car
■In May 2016 Businessman Jacob Juma was shot dead while driving home.
He had been involved in several high-profile legal cases against the
government over failed business deals
■In October 2013 Muslim cleric Ibrahim "Rogo" Omar was shot dead while
driving home. Mr Rogo was alleged to have links with Islamist
militants al-Shabab
■In August 2012 Muslim cleric Aboud Rogo Mohammed was killed in a
drive-by shooting. He was from the same mosque as Mr Omar and was also
accused of backing al-Shabab
■In March 2009 human rights activist Oscar Kamau Kingara, who
investigated extrajudicial killings, was shot dead in his car shot as
he drove home.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
Disclaimer:Everyone posting to this Forum bears the sole responsibility for any legal consequences of his or her postings, and hence statements and facts must be presented responsibly. Your continued membership signifies that you agree to this disclaimer and pledge to abide by our Rules and Guidelines.To unsubscribe from this group, send email to: ugandans-at-heart+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
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