IPOA: Witness was threatened before murder

Vincent Kirui, an investigator with IPOA testifies at Milimani court during the hearing of a case where Lawyer Willy Kimani and 2 others were murdered. (Photo: George Njunge /standard)

A witness in a case against a police officer reported death threats before he was killed, a court heard yesterday.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) told Justice Jessie Lesiit that Josphat Mwenda was threatened twice before he was killed alongside his lawyer Willy Kimani.

Also killed was taxi driver Joseph Muiruri in July 2016.

Vincent Kirui from Ipoa told the court investigators were in the process of placing Mwendwa, a boda boda rider, under witness protection when he was killed.

Mr Kirui read a statement Mwenda had recorded at a police station complaining of threats to his life.

Mwendwa had complained to Ipoa about being shot in the chest by a police officer in Mlolongo on March 10, 2015.

He had told Ipoa that he noticed the man who shot him with a pistol was a police officer. 

"He was taken to Shalom Hospital but some months later, Mwenda visited our offices again, this time with another complaint. That was in December, when he complained two police officers had visited his house and threatened to kill him for reporting them to Ipoa," he said.

Mwendwa said the police officers who came to threaten him in his house were the same ones involved in the first incident.

Four police officers are facing murder charges over the three deaths.