Officer accused of killing mourner in Nairobi’s Mukuru slums remanded

A magistrate court has remanded a police officer who allegedly gunned down a mourner and injured two others during a brawl at a funeral meeting in Nairobi’s Mukuru slums.

Fredrick Bichang’a Obara appeared before Nairobi Resident Magistrate Daniel Ochenja on allegations of killing Robinson Omusali on Saturday.

Sergeant John Shegu, who is investigating the matter, requested that the suspect be remanded for 12 days to allow for completion of the probe. He applied for the officer to be held at Industrial Area Police Station.

Through an affidavit, Mr Shegu said the accused was arrested on September 29 on allegations of shooting dead an unarmed mourner attending a burial meeting in the slums.

He added that the officer further turned his AK47 rifle and shot another mourner, Livingston Kusimba Vukono, in the chest. Mr Vukono is currently in the ICU at Mater Hospital.

According to Shegu, Obara further shot another mourner, Shem Temba in the hand and stomach and he is currently admitted in Shalom Hospital.

“I need more time for a mental assessment, to eliminate finger prints and ascertain the position of the victim at Mater Hospital,” said Shegu. 

VIOLENT PROTESTS

However, lawyer Cliff Ombeta said the officer was on normal duty when the incident happened and there are no compelling reasons why the officer should be charged with murder.

It is alleged that the victims were at the meeting on Saturday night when they disagreed with the officer attached to the Industrial Area Police Station. The accused is alleged to have reached for his gun and fired, killing one person on the spot and seriously injuring two others.

The shooting sparked violent protests from residents who demanded the officer’s immediate arrest. The protests continued on Monday morning before locals learnt that the officer had been apprehended.

Police said the two wounded victims were in hospital and in stable condition. The incident is the latest in which police have been accused of misusing their guns and being trigger-happy.

Ochenja ordered the officer remanded at Industrial Area Police Station until October 14.