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Was extra-judicial killing of Eastleigh ‘thugs’ justified? Kenyans divided

Snippets from the video showing the suspect posed no threat before he was shot in cold blood/CFM

NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 1 – A video depicting what appears to be the broad daylight extra-judicial killing of a suspect by police has drawn mixed reactions.

The official reactions, as expected, strongly condemn the incident and call for speedy investigations to bring those behind what appears to be a cold blooded murder to book.

“Is the cabinet secretary for internal security prepared now to admit that extra judicial executions by the Kenya police is a serious problem and a threat to the rule of law? Or must we await more examples of this barbarity? Will the cabinet secretary, the IGP and the DCI take responsibility for the culture of extra judicial executions that is now so evidently entrenched in the national police service?,” Law Society of Kenya President Isaac Okero for instance demanded.

But not all are of the same mind given indications that the young man slain in the video was a member of a gang that had terrorised residents of the Easleigh borough.

“But those kids are careless/trigger happy,” @PiusMuturi for instance tweeted while @AlooBenardo was of the opinion that, “The officers are afraid of arresting the thugs coz they get out soon & go after the officer’s life.”

“If you choose to live by the bullet then surely you must be ready to die by the bullet. With rights comes responsibilities,” @nakshim tweeted.

While @kipropesque tweeted: “Results of a failure of several government institutions.”

And @RealJBahabwa tweeted, “gangs are terrible people maybe if haven’t become their victim But they need to handled with iron hand. I mean zero mercy.”

The above were responses to one @RobertAlai who on sharing the video on his account tweeted: “Kenya Police crack unit, #FlyingSquad, against members of a local gang called Gaza. Many in Facebook comments support the cops.”

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority has launched investigations with the Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet unequivocally telling Capital FM News that nothing would excuse such a brutal show of force.

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“I have seen the video and I condemn those actions. Investigations have already started and I can assure you action will be taken against officers involved.”

Surprisingly, Nairobi Police boss Japheth Koome differed with his higher up, expressed no remorse for the execution and is quoted as telling the Nation: “I buried a corporal from Kayole yesterday. The same gangsters shot dead another officer yesterday. Tell all gangsters out there that when they kill an officer I am ruthless and they will get it from me.”

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