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Family, friends remember slain Human Rights lawyer, compatriots at memorial

Lawyers have held a week long protest over the brutal killing of Willie, 2 others/FILE

Lawyers have held a week long protest over the brutal killing of Willie, 2 others/FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 8- A joint memorial service in remembrance of Lawyer Willie Kimani, his client Josephat Mwenda and taxi driver Joseph Muiruri was held on Friday morning, ending a week of anger and shock over their brutal killings.

The ceremony was held at the Consolata Shrine, in Westlands ahead of Kimani’s burial on Saturday in Kikuyu, Kiambu County.

The three bodies were pulled out of the Ol Donyo Sabuk River in Kilimambogo on July 1 and taken to the City Mortuary.

Their killings continue to elicit condemnation largely from the Law Society of Kenya and Human Rights defenders in the country, who continue to call for justice to be done.

Four police officers have since been arrested over the murder and will remain in custody until July 18 when their case will be mentioned.

Those in custody are Sergeant Fredrick Leliman, Sergeant Leonard Mwangi, Corporal Stephen Chebulet and Constable Silvia Wanjiku.

Detectives investigating the killings are still pursuing more suspects including to two to three people – most likely civilians – who collaborated with the four detained police officers in executing the killings, according to source privy on the investigations.

“The progress is very good because the site (of the killings) is now known,” he said, “what is remaining is the rest of the suspects involved and weapons used.”

Lawyers and Human Rights organisations in the country have been assured by police that all the culprits behind the murder of Kimani, Mwenda and Muiruri will be brought to book.

Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet says he is ready to engage the Law Society of Kenya and all other interested parties in the ongoing probe, to ensure justice is expeditiously delivered.

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“All that is required of police to do in respect to the investigations of that very heinous murder of advocate Kimani and his two companions, will be done to the fullest,” the IG assured on Wednesday.

“We will not spare anybody, whether a police officer or a civilian who was in one way or the other involved in that incident.”

Bonnet however maintained that there was not hit squad within the National Police Service despite the heinous acts committed by officers.

Some Lawyers have been calling for the resignation of the police boss and Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery over what they say are forced disappearances linked to police officers.

But Boinnet has dismissed the calls for his resignation arguing that the killings were the work of “individual rogue police officers who were not under instructions from anyone high up.”

“The National Police Service does not condone extra judicial killings. We don’t have such policy at all and that is why we moved fast and arrested those involved,” Boinnet said.

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