State to conceal identity of witnesses

By WILLIS OKETCH

Mombasa, Kenya: The identity of State witnesses testifying in a case will be concealed.

The case involves five suspected Mombasa Republican Council (MRC) militants who are charged with the murder of four policemen.

This means defence lawyers will receive witness statements without their names and personal details. The defence lawyers will only know or meet State witnesses in court.

Yesterday a judge made the ruling to protect witnesses testifying against suspected members of the separatist movement after prosecutors complained they had been targeted for murder, punishment or their property destroyed when their identities were disclosed.

But it was not clear how the witnesses’ identities will remain a secret after they appear in court or whether they will testify behind a screen with truncated voices.

The MRC has been accused of committing grotesque acts of revenge and also murder of police officers and traitors across Kilifi, Mombasa and Kwale counties.