Police on the spot over killings

Pressure is mounting on the government to explain why the police killed terror suspects even after they surrendered.

The families of Mr Salim Mohammed and Mr Kassim Omondi on Wednesday asked Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku to set up a judicial inquiry to investigate the incidents.

The two were shot dead on Monday in Kiembeni and Mlaleo respectively.

The families insisted that the suspects should have been arrested and prosecuted.

Mr Ismail Said, Omondi’s uncle said witnesses said his nephew was arrested far from his house, but was taken back and killed there.

“We have already written to the relevant authority to investigate the matter. We shall not sit back until we get justice,” said Mr Said.

Mohammed’s father-in-law Hassan Suleiman alleged that the police planted weapons on the suspects to justify the killings.

Other witnesses claimed the police brutally killed Mohammed one hour after arresting him.

In reports obtained by the Nation, several people among them Mr Twalha Hassan, have recorded statement regarding the shooting.

Mr Hassan said after police entered the house with Mohammed at about 1pm, everyone was ordered to leave the room, only later to find their relative dead and his bed blood-soaked.

“Police while leaving told us they had recovered a gun from him but refused to give us details on how he died,” said Mr Hassan.

Ms Hellen Wanjiru said the suspect was arrested in a matatu and interrogated for several minutes. She said the arresting officer called for reinforcement from Kiembeni Police Station. Mohammed was then bundled into a saloon car which sped off with him.

“I was shocked when I saw the body of the suspect later in a police vehicle after identifying him with clothes he wore. I consider this as an extra-judicial case,” she said.

Mr Caleb Ngw’ena, the suspect’s neighbour said after receiving information about his arrest, he followed the said vehicle and caught up with them at Shila Bar where the car was parked.

“I wanted to confront the officers but feared arrest for interfering with their work. I will take up the matter with Genesis of Human Rights organisation to ensure such cases are stopped. In his bedroom where he died, it was clear he was shot at close range. We shall carry out post-mortem to determine the cause of death,” he said.

The Muslim for Human Rights released the names of people suspected of terror and who it claimed were also targeted for killing.

“Some people have been arrested by police recently and a number are still being sought. We have interviewed them after they turned to us for protection,” said the organisation’s executive director, Mr Hussein Khalid.

He added: “We have already written to Mr Lenku to intervene and stop these killings.”