By Dann Okoth
The country woke up to horrifying news on February 24, 1997 of the bizarre death of University of Nairobi student leader Solomon Muruli.
Room 619 of the student’s hall at the University of Nairobi’s Kikuyu campus was a grisly sight after Muruli’s charred remains were found grotesquely leaning against the frames of a chair with the legs half under the bed.
The student had been burnt to death in a mysterious explosion in his room.
Muruli, who was the Vice Chairman of University of Nairobi Education Students Association (Unesa), was burnt beyond recognition in the fire that started minutes after 3.30 am.
He had received a death threat letter a week before his death from unidentified people.
The letter, according to one of the students Mr Wafula Mafura read: "Mr Muruli do not do it. Save your life. You will go, signed STIMMO."
Muruli is said to have been greatly stressed by the letter forcing him to request for protection from the university’s administration.
He was given two guards as security detail but they were withdrawn three days later.
Student’s abduction
The letter was sent a day after Muruli positively identified a police inspector as one of the officers who abducted and tortured him in December 1996.
Prior to the letter, Muruli had been summoned before the university’s disciplinary committee with 14 charges, which included allegations that he was responsible for organising riots and demonstrations against the university administration.
Solomon Muruli: The University of Nairobi student leader killed 12 years ago |
The death of the student came at a time when the police had been accused of brutal murders especially against student leaders and pro-change activists.
But 12 years after the controversial death of the student leader, information as to what led to Muruli’s death remain scanty.
Last week, after a month of prodding, the university owned up to the fact that an inquiry into the death of the student leader may not have borne fruits.
The personal assistant to the university’s Vice Chancellor Prof George Magoha, a Mr Chesoni, said the Government conducted an inquiry into the murder.
He denied that there was a parallel inquiry by the university, whose findings have allegedly been kept under lock and key by the institution.
"As you are aware, the Government instituted an inquiry into the murder but the university is not privy to the details of the outcome," he said.
"I have consulted the university’s chief security officer who assured me there was no parallel inquiry by the university," he added.
But an impeccable source at the university intimated to CCI that a preliminary report on the inquiry carried out by the university was gathering dust somewhere in the university.
"There is a great possibility someone is sitting on the report," said the source, who could not be named because he is not authorised to speak on behalf of the university.
Even though the university said police inquest into the murder was ordered by the Attorney General, both the AG’s office and the police were mum over the outcome of the inquiry.
Attempts to get a comment from the AG were fruitless. He was said to be out of the country.
"The AG is out of the country and is not expected back soon. As for the details of the inquiry you can contact the CID headquarters," said his secretary.
Director of CID Mr Simon Karanja was also not available.
Elusive response
"There was an inquest into the death of the student leader and former Vice Chancellor Prof Francis Gichaga and Dean of college of Education Prof Eddah Gachukia were among those who testified," Chesoni said.
Human Rights organisation, foreign diplomatic missions and politicians condemned the death and called for an independent inquiry into the murder.
The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) called for the arrest of a police officer at Kikuyu Police Station who was implicated in the capture and torture of Muruli in December 1996.
KHRC gave the officer’s name and said the late Muruli positively identified him as one of his torturers. It called for his arrest and investigation by officers other than those at Kikuyu Police Station.
The then Unesa Chairman James Nduko pointed an accusing finger at the police saying they should not have been allowed to investigate the incident.
"We need independent investigators since the police have previously been implicated in the victim’s predicament. Police should not be allowed to tamper with the body.
We need our doctor to be present," said the student leader at the scene of the incident.
Prof Gichaga said at the scene of the incident that the university would set up its own committee to investigate the incident, away from police investigations and appealed for calm among students and the public.
"I have been in touch with Police Commissioner Duncan Wachira and he promised me thorough and speedy investigations. We still have the case of Muruli’s abduction pending and this one must be investigated and the truth known," Gichaga was reported saying in sections of
the media.
