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Protests over killing of city lawyer, suspects to be held longer – PHOTOS


Lawyers and civil activists took to the streets across the country on Monday to protest the killing of a city lawyer, his client and a taxi driver in a suspected case of extrajudicial execution.

The protesters are also pushing for the resignation of top police bosses over the incident.

The three victims — lawyer Willie Kimani, his client Josphat Mwenda and their taxi driver Joseph Muiruri — were abducted by unknown men on June 23 as Mr Mwenda, a boda boda rider, and his lawyer, Mr Kimani, left a courtroom in Mavoko.

Their bodies were discovered in a river in Machakos a week later.

PHOTO | SAMUEL KARANJA
PHOTO | SAMUEL KARANJA

SHOT IN THE HAND

Mr Mwenda had earlier accused an administration police officer of shooting him in the hand while trying to arrest him. The case was still pending in court.

Monday’s protests marked the beginning of a one-week boycott of the courts by lawyers to press for the prosecution of police officers accused of the killings.

As the lawyers proceeded with their protests in the streets, at the High Court, a Chief Magistrate ordered that three police officers arrested over the killings be detained for 14 days pending investigations.

Chief Magistrate Aniel Ogembo allowed an application by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to have the officers detained.

PHOTO | SAMUEL KARANJA
PHOTO | SAMUEL KARANJA

In his application, the DPP said police are yet to complete investigations as the suspects, Fredrick ole Leliman, Stephen Cheburet Morogo and Silvia Wanjiku Morogo were arrested on Friday.

The DPP told the court that autopsies are yet to be done on the three bodies and police have not recorded statements from all witnesses.

In his ruling, Chief Magistrate Ogembo said the case has raised emotions and that the lawyer representing the three suspects did not object the application.

The case will be mentioned on July 18.