Students in a previous protest/FILE NAIROBI, Kenya Jul 16 – University of Nairobi students will hold demonstrations next week to call for the resignation of the police commissioner for what they say is his lack of commitment to investigate the death of Ms Mercy Keino who was a postgraduate student.
The Secretary General to the Universities Student Leaders Association Moses Nandalwe said that there was need for the police commissioner to step aside so that investigations are conducted into the circumstances under which Ms Keino died.
“We do not want Mr Iteere… he is taking this investigation lightly. We will hold a meeting with all student leaders on Tuesday then we decide which day is suitable to hold the demo,” he said noting that the first planned demonstration was put on hold to allow for the investigation.
“He was given time to do a probe. Why does the DPP have to recommend a further probe if the investigations are serious,” he posed.
Mr Nandalwe said the police commissioner had to conduct failed to a comprehensive investigations and arrest the culprits despite being given time by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Mr Nandalwe further noted that many other students had died in mysterious circumstances yet not one had been brought to book and that the trend was unacceptable.
He said that apart from demonstrating against the police commissioner, written petitions will be presented to the President and the Prime Minister for action.
“We have had many students die. For example, John Paul Oulo of the Oscar foundation… the police have never produced his killers,” he observed adding that police must be held accountable on the probes they conduct.
Police investigations concluded that Ms Keino who had attended a party in Westlands died after she was run over by a motorist.
On Friday the Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko ordered the Commissioner of Police to conduct a further probe into the death of Ms Mercy and that a report is submitted to him in 14 days.
The DPP said that investigations by police so far have a number of areas that need to be addressed in order to assist him form a conclusive opinion and give appropriate directions.
The probe aims to obtain statements from a number of identified witnesses; the recording of further statements by some witnesses that had previously recorded their statements; compilation of crime scene and forensic evidence and review and analysis of CCTV footage.
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