Sheikh Mohamed Ali Kheir alias Dawara laid to rest as leaders demand explanation over his death

Leaders are demanding answers from the state over the death of a cleric found murdered, three days after he was reportedly kidnapped by people posing as security officers.

Sheikh Mohamed Ali Kheir alias Dawara, whose lifeless body was found in Embu County, was laid to rest at Islamic cemetery in Garissa town in an emotional send-off attended by thousands of mourners. 

There was tight security in the town after reports emerged that Janaza (prayers on the deceased) were to be held at Garissa Primary School grounds. A truck-load of officers from the Rapid Deployment Unit were deployed at the vicinity and along Kismayo road in case of any security breach.

Most leaders who spoke at the funeral demanded answers from the Government on what led to the soft spoken cleric's death.

Fafi MP Bare Shill, who was among those who ferried the body from Embu, expressed shock that Kenyans can be accosted by people posing as security officers only to be later found brutally murdered.

"Those who were with the deceased did not raise the alarm during his "arrest" because the assailants identified themselves as police officers. People are now cautious to co-operate with anybody claiming to be a security officer lest they also fall victim," he said.

ARREST CULPRITS

Shill said the Government must explain who were behind the cleric's murder, or arrest the culprits.

"This will have a negative impact on the relationship between the police and members of the public. Until proven otherwise, security officers must be held responsible for what happened," he said.

Sheikh Kheir was allegedly kidnapped by three people who claimed to be security officers on Thursday as he was walking with others along Posta road in Garissa town, only to be found dead three days later, and his body dumped in a water pond in Embu County.

  PROVIDE ANSWERS

Other leaders who attended the burial included Supkem leaders Abdikadir Aden (MP Balambala) and  Abdinoor Mohamed (nominated MP).

The leaders said they would meet the county security heads to seek more information into the incidents.

Some Members of the County Assembly described the killing as the beginning of unexplained extra-judicial killings following the passage of the controversial Security (Amendment) Bill 2014.