Another reminder that police officers are not above the law

Police officer Fredrick ole Leliman. He sentenced to death for the murder of lawyer Willie Kimani, Josephat Mwenda and Joseph Muiruri. [File, Standard]

Justice Jessie Lessit delivered a death sentence judgment in the case involving the murder of, among others human rights lawyer Willie Kimani, who was gruesomely murdered by a police officer. According to Justice Lessit, the murders were premeditated and the victims were brutally tortured and killed.

Kimani's killing no doubt exposed the many extrajudicial killings and disappearances that have been occasioned by some members of the Kenyan police. Surprisingly, several years down the line after the country's Police Force rebranded to the Kenya Police Service, there is little to show for the name change. Instead, the Police Service has been marred by cases of rogue police officers terrorising the very people who have employed them and pay their salaries.