Muslim clerics demand probe on police killings

By NGUMBAO KITHI AND ALLY JAMAH

Muslim clerics in Mombasa have asked Chief Justice Willy Mutunga to set up an independent commission to investigate the drugs story KTN aired.

A director of Muslim for Human Rights (Muhuri), Mr Khelef Khalifa and the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) Organising Secretary Sheikh Mohamed Khalifa said the KTN story exposed the rot in the police force.

Khelef said an independent team headed by a High Court judge should be set up to investigate the killings of police officers who had details on the drugs cartel.

" The investigation team must be headed by a High Court judge just like the Waki Commission where serious investigation must be done and information released to the public before suspects are taken to court," he said.

He also demanded the immediate transfer of Coast PC Ernest Munyi and his entire security team for allegedly sleeping on the job.

The official accused the security team of failure to contain the drug menace.

"The transfer will allow the commission to carry out its investigation without frustration from the PC and his team," he said.

Transfer

Mr Munyi however, refused to comment on demands by the clerics. "I do not wish to comment on the transfer demand," he said.

Khelef faulted the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights officials who helped two security personnel to write a statement about the killings of Administration Police officers in Mombasa of not acting on the incident.

He said the war on narcotics in Mombasa is serious as the traffickers are using the civil society and the public to demonstrate on the streets as the drug barons walk free.

Sheikh Mohamed Khalifa said he was shocked by Police Spokesman Eric Kiraithe’s statement that they would sue KTN.

"The police must not just issue threats. We want to know who was behind the killings of these innocent police officers," he said.

Khalifa however, defended the Coast Provincial Criminal Investigation Officer Ambrose Munyasia for his fight against drugs in the region.

Meanwhile, Muslim leaders have condemned the recent grenade attack on a church in Garissa.

Two people were killed and several others injured. Led by deputy Imam of Nairobi’s Jamia Mosque Sheikh Juma Amir, the leaders termed the attack immoral.

"Of course we are not certain about who was behind the grisly attacks. But if it was a Muslim, we vehemently condemn and dissociate ourselves from such actions," he told faithful Friday after prayers.

Sheikh Amir said Islamic law honours and respects churches and all other houses of worship and any attacks directed at them should be condemned.