Kenyan detectives reliable, says envoy

By Standard Team

He said it is wrong to condemn and pass a vote of no confidence in local detectives, German Ambassador Walter Lindner has said.

The envoy called on the Government to work with foreign agencies to investigate the killing of two NGO officials last week.

He spoke as leaders continued to condemn the shooting of Oscar Foundation Executive Director Kamau King’ara and Programme Officer Paul Oulu in Nairobi last Thursday.

"There are more than 40,000 police officers and among them are honest officers who can be relied upon in such investigation," said Mr Lindner.

Addressing a Press conference at his residence in Nairobi, the envoy said foreign diplomats would monitor the progress of the investigation.

Elsewhere, three South Rift MPs yesterday condemned the killing of the NGO officials and appealed to the Government to end the Mungiki menace.

Led by Roads Minister Franklin Bett, the ODM legislators also asked leaders from Central Province to help solve historical injustices on land, which they said Mungiki was fighting for.

Investigate and solve

Mr Bett, who was accompanied by Kuresoi MP Zakayo Cheruiyot and Beatrice Kones of Bomet, warned that the sect’s operations could spread to other parts of the country.

Speaking at a funds drive in Kaplamai Health Centre in Kuresoi, the legislators said the Government should investigate and solve issues being advocated by Mungiki instead of using force.

"We know they are fighting for their rights because their ancestral land was grabbed by a few individuals rendering majority landless in Central Province," Mr Cheruiyot claimed.

Meanwhile, seven suspects are being held in connection with the murder of the activists.

They were arrested on Saturday morning and yesterday.

Commissioner of Police Hussein Ali said on Sunday the suspects would be subjected to an identification parade to establish if they participated in the incident.

"Investigators are focusing on six suspects who they believe are either connected with the murder or have information that can assist in identification of the culprits," he said.

—Stories by Beauttah Omanga, Peter Mutai and Cyrus Ombati