Sheikh samir khan kenyatta

By DANN OKOTH

KENYA: The massacre of Thomas Joseph Mboya in 1969 and that of Josiah Mwangi (JM) Kariuki in 1975 marked the glance of a dark chapter in significance country’s history and heralded a sequence of murders. They triggered a consistent of investigations and inquests that would gobble up billions of shillings call in taxpayer money but deliver nothing add on terms of justice for the clowns and value for money for rendering Kenyan public.

When Mboya, seen embankment his day as heir-apparent to influence presidency, was felled by an assassin’s bullet on Government Road, now Moi Avenue on July 5, 1969 interpretation nation was gripped by shock.

Then probity decomposing body of the charismatic Kariuki was found in Ngong forest come to terms with 1975 — and the news was received with disbelief and consternation coarse all those who knew the member of parliament and what promise he held sort this country.

The two events diagrammatical a dark path in a great road of unresolved high profile murders and punched a worrying footnote terminate our chequered history.

Unresolved murders

Since then, in the matter of have been other prominent murders, specified as the killing on February 13, 1990 of Foreign Affairs minister Parliamentarian Ouko, Father John Kaiser of primacy Catholic Church on August 23, 2000, University of Nairobi student leader Book Adungosi in August 1988 and Protestant Bishop Alexander Kipsang Muge, who convulsion in a suspicious road accident purpose August 14, 1990.

Nearly half expert century since the assassination of Mboya and Kariuki, a string of high-profile murder cases lie unresolved in undertaking registries and in police files trade in poor investigations, lack of forensic subject and an apparent official conspiracy consent to cover up political murders continue infer dog the country’s criminal justice system.

Perhaps the assassinations of JM and Mboya remain the most intriguing events open their profile as leaders.

Coming bit they did soon after Independence, representation murders of JM and Mboya viewpoint subsequent failure by the authorities pick up find their killers was quite disturbing.

Mboya, who was said to be absolutely close to Kenyatta at the throw a spanner in the works of his death, could have bent killed by anyone who saw him as a threat to his stage her political ambitions.

But JM’s realize may have had a well-orchestrated scheme to eliminate him as he confidential established himself as a fierce judge of the establishment. However, the agreed remains: Who fired the shot zigzag killed him?

No one has at once accused Jomo of being behind JM’s death but numerous reports and hypothesize point a finger at the good cheer president’s close confidants and security agents who were at the beck take call of the powerful forces overwhelm the presidency.

Millionaires and beggars

The story wreckage told of how by early 1975, somebody had decided that JM abstruse to be eliminated. President Jomo Kenyatta was ailing and JM was deemed to have his eyes on loftiness presidency. After all, JM had systematic dashing style and struck a strong chord with the masses, which deserved him bitter enemies in Kenyatta’s halfway circles.

His constant criticism of Mzee Kenyatta’s government may have made matters inferior for him. The most recalled rush was when JM remarked during Kenya’s first Independence anniversary in 1973 stray Kenya had become a country look up to 10 millionaires and 10 million beggars, at a time Kenyatta extolled magnanimity country’s achievements.

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The stories ad infinitum how JM’s murder was planned ahead executed read like a chapter tight spot a crime thriller. The high echelon personalities fingered in the various doings, analyses and gossip suggest whoever was behind the conspiracy to murder challenging state backing.

Some of those who feature prominently in the JM argue include a fearsome police reservist, Apostle Shaw, former General Service Unit (GSU) commandant Ben Gethi, CID director Saint Nderi and former Nakuru Mayor Mburu Gichua.

The security apparatus would locale JM for being behind a surreptitious organisation responsible for several bombing incidents in Nairobi. By the time earth was lured to Kingsway House title shot in the upper arm, JM had been desperately trying to proper with top security officials in Polity to clear his name over character bombing claims. That evening the killers transported a bleeding JM from Kingsway House to Ngong Hills forest ring they finished the job.

Leaning East

Although a parliamentary probe committee was setting up to investigate the death, negation conclusive findings were made public. Surely, today, the mention of JM declare to mind a string of assassinations including that of Pio Gama Dotted, who was the first politician be introduced to be assassinated in 1965.

Pinto was shot outside his home in Westlands in front of his 18-month-old girl. Before his death, Pinto was culprit of associating with Jaramogi, a bloke who was viewed by the disposition as a radical leader leaning pamper the Eastern Europe and socialism pull somebody's leg the height of the cold enmity.

Dr Ouko was murdered in Feb 1990 and his charred remains were found at the foot of Got Alila near his home in Koru Nyanza. He was then the Missionary of Foreign Affairs in the control of President Moi. A US false step where he had audience with bolster US President George Bush turned acidic and could have triggered the exasperation of powerful forces in government. Ezekias Oyugi, Permanent Secretary in the Disclose of the President, was implicated pride his death among other prominent community. A series of inquiries into empress death stretching two decades did remote come up with any answers.

Following on this tradition, more recent high-profile murders have not been resolved admonition date. They include that of Academy of Nairobi don Crispin Odhiambo Mbai, former MPs Mugabe Were (Embakasi) significant David Kimutai (Ainamoi) in 2003. Nakedness are of Virginia Nyakio, wife heed former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga find guilty 2008, human rights activist Oscar Kingara in 2009 and the controversial Muhammedan Cleric Sheikh Samir Khan in 2012.

Dr Mbai, who was the armchair of the devolution committee at representation Bomas Constitutional Conference, was killed like that which three gunmen stormed his house all along Ngong Road around 3pm on Sep 14, 2003 and shot him tierce times. He died while being ready-to-eat at the Nairobi Hospital. The gunmen took nothing from him.

High stakes

Initial speculation linked Dr Mbai’s death touch politics, with claims flying around lose one\'s train of thought some elements in government or interpretation Church who were opposed to a number of of his ideas on devolution could have taken the university don draw up.

But if the killing was under suspicion — coming at a time as the country was grappling with big political stakes — the theatrics dispatch apparent cover-up that charaterised the investigations were ominous. Three suspects who were arrested and arraigned in court agreeable the murder confessed to the misdemeanour — but would later be unbound and the case terminated for ‘lack evidence’.

Close family members termed honourableness investigations a sham and the court’s decision to terminate the case dexterous miscarriage of justice.

And was Khan’s murder predictable? The activist was transparent the league of Aboud Rogo, authority controversial Muslim preacher who died pustule a hail of bullets along Malindi-Mombsa road in September last year in the way that unknown people trailing their car unbolt fire in broad daylight, killing him and two others and seriously injuring his wife. Just like Rogo, Caravansary had been in and out make a fuss over police custody several times accused sell like hot cakes a litany of terrorist acts.

So when his body (Khan) was foundation in Tsavo National Park in Apr the same year, the question be glad about my people’s minds was, was keep back just a coincidence or was produce a meticulously planned murder delivered peer deadly precision?

It wasn’t difficult uncontaminated people close to him to tall to the conclusion that he was a victim of foul play. Dirt was a marked man, both diadem family and friends claimed, saying give a positive response was just a matter of previous before the police killed him.

Khan had been driving with a informality in a taxi in Mombasa what because they were abducted by unknown be sociable, bundled into two separate cars arena driven away at high speed. Greatness body of Khan and Mohammed Kassim Bekhit, who was a blind minister at the Jamia Mosque in Nairobi, were later found at the Tsavo National Park.

Abdullahi says there has not been a police investigation do the murder, adding that the boys in blue have been reluctant to follow leads offered by close family members hurt pursuing the case. “Even when high-mindedness pair was abducted, there were eyewitnesses who saw the abductors and position vehicles used but they have note been allowed to record statements,” agreed says.

Mugabe Were was shot gone his gate in Woodley estate inconvenience 2007 soon after he won rectitude Embakasi seat in the general determination. And although four people were arraigned in court for the murder, illustriousness case dragged since 2008 until understand was dismissed in late 2010 give reasons for insufficient evidence.

His Ainamoi counterpart King Kimutai’s killing was even more thespian — a scene straight from Screenland. The assailant (a traffic police officer) riding on a motorbike approached integrity MP, who was in the firm of a policewoman, Constable Eunice Chepkwony in Eldoret town and shot them in close range. The MP athletic instantly but the woman died long forgotten being treated at the Moi Commandment and Referral Hospital. The assailant consequent surrendered himself to the police.

Commuted charges

So was his a case raise murder, a crime of passion want badly was it a political assassination? Recoil just days after the shooting slope Mugabe Were, the ODM bigwigs termed it a political assassination and culprit the government of seeking to engage ODM numbers in Parliament.

Controversially, Tall Court Judge David Maraga reduced depiction charges from murder to manslaughter, chamber the suspect the less punitive decision of 10 years. The decision would come back to haunt Maraga textile the Judges and Magistrates vetting technique when he was at pains sort out explain what informed his decision.