“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of and friends of Willy Kimani, Joseph Muiruri and Josephat Mwenda. We assure you of the government’s commitment to resolving these incidences and to a just outcome,” he stated/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 3 – Attorney General Githu Muigai has backed interventions by the Inspector General of Police and the National Police Service in probing the disappearance and subsequent death of lawyer Willie Kimani, his client Josephat Mwenda and the taxi driver Joseph Muiruri.
Muigai says it is the government’s position that the incident currently under investigation be treated as a case of individual criminal action of rogue actors acting outside of the rule of law.
“We trust that the allegations against any perpetrators of crime, even those who may be resident within our security institutions are not unduly referenced to the disciplined force in general and its continued reform effort,” he said.
He says the government will spare no effort to bring those culpable of the heinous crime to book no matter their position or status in society.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of and friends of Willie Kimani, Joseph Muiruri and Josephat Mwenda. We assure you of the government’s commitment to resolving these incidenct and to a just outcome,” he stated.
The Attorney General further reiterates the commitment of the government to the covenant on human rights as entrenched in the Constitution and as a policy does not condone extra-judicial killings.
He says the independence of the legal profession is fundamental to the rule of law and the government remains committed to the protection of its independence and the actors who operate therein.
“The contradictory actions of individuals propelled by motives other than the rule of law will not be tolerated. Indeed, we shall work with the Law Society of Kenya and other professional bodies to ensure that the integrity of the professional environment for practitioners is protected,” he added.
The bodies of Kimani, his client Mwenda and taxi driver Muiruri were found dumped a river in Kilimambogo, with signs that they were tortured before their deaths.
On Saturday, Inspector General of Police Boinnet named officers in custody for the murders.
Those being detained are Senior Sergeant Fredrick Leliman, Corporal Stephen Chebulet and Police Constable Silvia Wanjiku.
Boinnet rejected claims that police sanction extra judicial killings and vowed ensure those responsible are held to account.
The Kenya Magistrates and Judges Association has at the same time said that the killing of the lawyer was meant to instil fear in members of the Law Society of Kenya whenever they handle sensitive cases.
Grassroots human eights defenders have also condemned the killings arguing that if the perpetrators are not punished, the human rights defenders will be at risk of being targeted by killer squads.
“We are demanding for the resignation of the Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery as well as the Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet. We shall do everything that will be needed of us to ensure Justice is served,” Coalition for Constitution Implementation Kenya Convener Cidi Otieno told Capital FM News.
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