DP Ruto attends Kenei’s burial in Rongai, holds meeting with family

Deputy President William Ruto accompanied with other political leaders when he attended the burial of slain AP officer Kipyegon Kenei in Chamasis village, Rongai, Nakuru County on March 7. [Courtesy]

Deputy President William Ruto on Saturday attended the burial of slain AP officer Kipyegon Kenei in Nakuru County and held a meeting with the officer's family members.

The DP who was accompanied by a host of politicians allied to him visited Kenei’s family at their Chemasis village in Rongai, Nakuru County and delivered his condolence message during a meeting between him and the family.

DP Ruto who shortened his trip in Kiambu County to attend the burial was received by Labour Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui, who is a relative to the deceased.

Ruto has described Sergeant Kenei as a disciplined young officer and has called on detectives to bring to book those who behind his killing.

 “I am deeply saddened by the death of Sergeant Kenei who worked in my Harambee House Annex Office. He was a disciplined young police officer. I urge the relevant authorities to conduct a thorough investigation to ascertain the circumstances surrounding his death,” he said when news of Kenei's death broke out.

Kenei, who was murdered two weeks ago in Sh39 billion military equipment scandal, will be buried today in Rongai, Nakuru County.

His family and political leaders have urged the government to investigate and arrest those who murdered the father of two in his Imara Daima house in Nairobi.

Speaking earlier today at Umash Funeral Home in Nakuru on Saturday, Kenei’s father John Chesang eulogised his son as hardworking young man who did not deserve to die.

He lauded the ongoing investigations into the killing led by Directorate Of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss George Kinoti, but challenged the investigators to arrest those behind the killing.

"We are finally at ease after the DCI revealed that my son was murdered. However, what we want to know are the contents of the data that was recovered from his phone. Let that be made public just like the CCTV footage from Deputy President William Ruto's office, which was aired," Chesang urged.

"I have a strong conviction that my son's blood will forever haunt those who killed him. He didn't commit any offence and his murder will not go unpunished. We expect transparency in the investigations without any form of cover-up for the sake of any other officer who may be working in such a risky environment," he said on Friday.

Ruto on Friday took to twitter, a few hours after his Chief of Staff, Ken Osinde, issued a statement challenging details of the CCTV footage released by Kinoti on Thursday.

DP Ruto in Nakuru with the son to the late Sgt. Kipyegon Kenei and other family members for the burial. [Courtesy]

The DP described the press conference and footage by Kinoti as criminal cover-up in the murder case of Sergeant Kenei, who was attached to his office and told them to name the killers.

He told the DCI stop the smear campaign targeting his office and instead name and arrest the suspects if they genuinely want to deliver justice to Kenei and the family

"The truth must be found on why, how, and who killed Sergeant Kenei. The family, my office and Kenyans want the truth and justice and culprits held to account,” he tweeted.