Arrested Likoni youths charged with idling, terrorists still at large

By WILLIS OKETCH

Mombasa, Kenya: Forty nine youths arrested on Sunday at Likoni after suspected terrorists stormed a Church and killed six worshipers have been charged in Mombasa with committing  a nuisance  in public by idling and being disorderly.

It was evident that none or most of them had any connection with the Sunday violence as police came under intense public pressure to explain why the attack occurred, why they could not prevent it or why the attackers had not been captured.

Actual perpetrators

On Monday, Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Administration Police Simon Arachi claimed that police “have good leads that might give information about the actual perpetrators” but there was no indication that was happening by yesterday.

However, the suspects who were brought to court after being confined since Sunday night admitted the offences before Mombasa Resident Magistrate  Mr Abraham Gachie who fined them Sh2,000 each or in default serve 21 days.

First offenders

County Court prosecutor  Kennedy Oruko asked the court to treat them as first offenders as there was no record about their past crime.

Among those charged included Victor Odhiambo, Nurdin Mwafasa, Ndegwa Mtele,  Mwajiji Botota and others.

They  admitted that  on March 24 at Likoni  in Mombasa County, they were found idling and disorderly .

By the time of going to press, most of the suspects had not paid their fine and were taken to King’orani Prison at Majengo where petty criminals are jailed.

And by yesterday evening, the police had not arrested the attackers who escaped on foot after accomplishing their mission at Joy of Jesus church at Likoni flats.

The suspects whose number has not been established were putting on masks during the incident.

Masked men

 Mombasa County Police Commander Robert Kitur  said they had established that two of the attackers were putting on masks.

“I believe these are  people who are known in the area and that was why they were hiding their faces,” said  Kitur.

It was not clear if the carton with more than one dozen of bullets which was dropped at the scene by the terror suspects had been taken for finger prints.

Senior police officers from Nairobi toured the church following the bloody killings which has left a one-year-old boy in pains with a lodged bullet in his head which pierced the head after killing his mother.

The boy has already been flown to Nairobi for specialist treatment at Kenyatta Hospital  where equipment which can be used in brain surgery.