Coast leaders in demo today to protest against killing of teen

Mombasa County Governor, Ali Hassan Joho comforts Ruth Syombua at Haki Africa office in Mombasa. Her son Tony Katana was shot dead by police officers two weeks ago at Kongowea in Mombasa North mainland. Mombasa is set for massive protests today over extra-judicial killings, as the world observes the International Day of the Disappeared. (PHOTO: OMONDI ONYANGO/ STANDARD)

Mombasa is set for massive protests today over extra-judicial killings, as the world observes the International Day of the Disappeared.

Yesterday, Governor Hassan Joho led political, religious and civil society leaders in condemning the killing of a 16-year-old boy by police. He will lead today’s demo to protest the killing of Tony Kenga, among others. 

Coast politicians will today lead demonstrations to protest against the killing of a 16-year-old student.

Tony Katana Kenga was shot dead by police as he left a wedding party on the night of August 12, 2016.

Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and three Mombasa MPs Badi Twalib (Jomvu), Mishi Mboko (Woman Representative) and Rashid Bedzimba (Kisauni) condemned the police and demanded that action be taken against those responsible.

And Haki Africa, a Mombasa-based civil society group, has teamed up with families of those felled by police in mysterious circumstances to institute public interest litigation in a bid to get justice for victims of alleged extrajudicial killings.

Haki Africa Executive Director Hussein Khalid said a team of lawyers, to be led by Yusuf Aboubakar, will institute the legal proceedings.

"We are seeing a trend on such killings allegedly committed by officers vested with the sole responsibility of ensuring our safety. We call upon all relatives of victims of extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances to come forward and share their cases so that they can be litigated," Mr Khalid said.

Mr Joho, who addressed a press conference at Haki Africa offices, criticised officers at Nyali Police Station for failing to record a statement from Katana's mother, Ruth Syombua. 

"I am today (yesterday) personally heading to Nyali Police Station to compel police to record a statement (from Ms Syombua)," Joho said.

The county chief said he had been dully informed that Katana had little use of his arms after he was involved in an accident two years ago. Joho announced that the county government had waived mortuary fees for Katana's family and would help meet funeral expenses. Katana will be buried in Kitui County on Saturday.

Mr Bedzimba wondered why police were shooting suspects instead of arresting them. "Why do we have judicial court's if they cannot be used to dispense justice?" the lawmaker posed.

And Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir claimed they were witnessing a new trend in extra judicial killings where youths were being targeted.

"Could it be a systematic way to wipe out the youthful generation? In fact there are more questions now that we are approaching an electioneering year and we do not want to hear that so-and-so was killed because of political reasons," Mr Nassir said.

He said it was foolhardy for police sources to link Katana to a criminal gang.

Ms Mboko said: "We have lost several people through mysterious killings whose investigations appear to hit a dead end."

Bishop Abraham Lincoln of Deliverance Restoration Church where Kenga used to worship described the him as a God fearing young man.

"Enough is enough! We cannot take any more lies that every time police carry out extra-judicial killings, they are allowed to go free," he said.

Thomas Abott, the principal at Havard High School where Katana was a student, said they were still waiting for answers over his killing.

"We never had him in the bad books," he said. But Kisauni Deputy OCPD Walter Abondo maintained that Katana was a member of a gang.