Conduct proper probe into bizzare killings

A lawyer, his client and a boda boda rider have died in the most horrific manner and going by their previous mishandling by police officers, the law enforcement agents have a lot of explaining to do.

Several days after they were reported missing, police yesterday announced that the bodies of lawyer Willie Kimani Kinuthia, his client Josephat Mwenda and their taxi driver Joseph Muiruri had been found dumped in Ol Donyo Sabuk River in Kilimambogo, Machakos County.

The report of their disappearance set off the alarm bells – lawyer Kimani, went to court to institute charges against a police officer whom he stated had harassed his client Mwenda in an attempt to coerce him to drop a case against him after the AP shot the taxi operator and injured him.

It has emerged that the police officer working in concert with other officers made repeated attempts to have the charges dropped, included using threats and preferring trumped up charges against the taxi operator. And when the litigants moved to present this evidence to the Mavoko Law Court, the trio disappeared, possibly abducted outside the court premises.

Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet has already issued orders that the three officers involved in this matter be arrested. And this is why the officers are beginning to look as prime suspects in the killings.

The irony is not lost on Kenyans that law abiding citizens who were seeking justice to an injustice paid the ultimate prize.

Ultimately, investigations should help unravel who was responsible for the brutal killings. And if evidence can be adduced to help indict the killer or killers, then it is the courts that will have to determine the guilty party or parties.

At this stage, all we can ask is for a thorough investigations — a probe that will leave no stone unturned in bringing the killers to book.

What we do not want to see is a cover up. Too many times, we have seen police go scot-free even when there has been overwhelming evidence to prove a case of extra-judicial killings could have been established if proper investigation were carried out. This is not to suggest that the suspects in question are guilty. It is to emphasize those efforts by some police officers to subvert justice has been established, and this should not be allowed to go on. Let the investigations be thorough and professional so that justice is seen to be done.