3 police officers found guilty of killing of human rights lawyer in Kenya

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) – A Kenyan court on Friday found three police officers and an informant guilty of the murder of human rights lawyer Willy Kimani, his client, and their driver in 2016.

In the ruling, Justice Jessie Lessit said the court had found that beyond any reasonable doubt that the police officers had conspired and brutally murdered their victims.

Lessit said the police officers (Sgt. Frederick Leliman, Stephen Cheburet and Sylvia Njoki) had 14 days to appeal the verdict.

A fourth police officer, Leonard Maina, who was arrested alongside the trio, was set free, as he could not be linked to the murders, and was acquitted of all charges.

The International Justice Mission, a US-based NGO, issued a statement following the conviction saying: “Today Justice has been served! … It has been a long journey but we are hopeful this decision of the court will bring closure and solace to the family, friends, and colleagues who have continued to suffer while waiting for justice.”

The Kenya Human Rights Commission and other rights groups also issued statements thanking the court for delivering justice in the case.

The June 2016 deaths of lawyer Willie Kimani, his client, motorcycle taxi rider Josephat Mwenda, and taxi driver Joseph Muruiri sparked demonstrations against enforced disappearances and extra-judicial killings allegedly carried out by police.

Their bodies were discovered in a river 70 kilometers (43 miles) northeast of Nairobi. They had been tortured before being shot dead.

Kimani, Mwenda and Muruiri were last seen on June 23 at the Mavoko Law Court southeast of the capital Nairobi, when Kimani filed a complaint against police for allegedly shooting Mwenda in the arm during a traffic stop.