Family of slain journalist seeks compensation

The family of slain journalist William Munuhe is keen on pursuing compensation even after the arrest of the suspected Rwanda genocide mastermind Felicien Kabuga.

Munuhe, a freelance journalist whose death was linked to Mr Kabuga, was killed in 2003.

His family has never rested easy after his demise threw them into disarray and suffering for close to two decades. His elder brother Josephat Muriithi, who spoke to the Nation, said Munuhe’s death was followed by a series of misfortunes in the family, including the death of his father, Nicholus Gichuki, and his twin sister, Elizabeth Nyambura.

Mr Muriithi said the family believes that their kin was betrayed by officers in the police force who were aware of his operations in trying to help the arrest of Mr Kabuga.

Mr Kabuga, a business tycoon, is suspected to have funded the 1994 Rwanda genocide which saw close to a million people dead in a just 100 days

Mr Munuhe was killed on January 14, 2003, on the day he was supposed to meet Mr Kabuga in a scheme orchestrated by the FBI.

His decomposing body was discovered by detectives who broke into his house after waiting for three days in vain for his signal to lay an ambush on the suspect.

The body which was retrieved from his bedroom was lying in a pool of blood and was disfigured using a corrosive acid with indications that he was shot

After the journalist’s death, Mr Kabuga fled the country and was on the run until May 15 when French authorities reported his arrest in Paris.

In their push for justice, Mr Muriithi filed a case on behalf of his family before the High Court in Nakuru, seeking to have the court declare that the government failed in its duty to protect the life of his brother.

However, Mr Muriithi called on well-wishers and human rights bodies to help him prosecute the matter.

The case which was mentioned Wednesday before Justice Joel Ngugi will be mentioned on September 23.