Kenyans in an uproar over the prosecution of alleged killer cop Ahmed Rashid
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) on November 24, 2022, announced that police officer Corporal Ahmed Rashid would be charged with the murder of Jamal Mohammed and Mohamed Dhair Kheri when they were fatally shot on March 31, 2017.
Rashid made news in 2017 onwards for being a tough crime buster who was the head of the Pangani Six, an infamous police squad accused of extrajudicial killings in Nairobi’s east lands and Southlands areas including Eastleigh, Mathare and Dandora.
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The Nation previously reported that Anne Makori, the Chairperson of IPOA, said they had forwarded their investigation findings to the Director of Public Prosecutions and recommended that Corporal Rashid be charged with murder.
This came in the wake of his admitting to a foreign media house that once they profiled suspects, they had to get them off the streets, whether dead or alive.
In a 2017 viral video, he was recorded shooting dead two young men dead in front of hundreds of witnesses in Eastleigh.
They had been lying on the street in surrender before Corporal Rashid shot dead the unarmed men cornered by police.
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Following this prosecution recommendation to the DPP and the DPP’s subsequent approval of the charges, a section of Kenyans went up in uproar, wondering why an officer who is believed to have eradicated serious crime in parts of Nairobi was being prosecuted for protecting residents instead of being hailed as a hero.
“The issue of court wanting Ahmed Rashid to be charged with murder is unacceptable. Ahmed Rashid brought sanity to Pangani, Mlango Kubwa and Eastleigh areas.
Charging him is promoting insecurity and giving gangs unwanted confidence. This is a terrible bad move,” said Abdiweli Duale.
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“Ahmed Rashid achievements: Ending group gangs, restoring law and order in Eastlands, businesses can close at late hours, banning all gang bases in Eastleigh and earning the trust of residents. The govt. should recognize him for fighting to reduce criminals in Kenya!” said Amedo Shair.
“Before Ahmed Rashid came to Eastleigh, the Superpower Gang used to collect revenues in Eastleigh shops. Stop arresting him,” demanded Hajjy Mtrue.
“If Ahmed Rashid will be charged, then Eastleigh will be a no-go zone due to insecurity,” added Hajjy.
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