BY ALBERT NYAKUNDI
The International Justice Mission (IJM) has expressed satisfaction with the arrest and arraignment of a senior police officer suspected of murdering a man and a woman in Mlolongo,Machakos County.
Chief Inspector of police Stephen Lelei is accused of killing Jacob Mbai and Elizabeth Nduku in May 2016 when he was the OCS at Mlolongo police station.
He has been charged alongside a former police officer Fredrick Leliman who is remanded at Kamiti Maximum prison.
Leliman is facing yet another murder case of killing a human rights lawyer Willie Kimani, Josephat Mwenda and Joseph Muiruri in June 2016.
The lawyer was until his death working at IJM.
Lelei was until his arrest attached at the personnel office at the police headquarters.
He is held at Machakos GK prison and will be arraigned Monday, next week.
The celebrated officer came into the limelight after he took the lead in responding to West Gate terror attack in 2013 together with his junior officers.
He was at the time based at Kabete police station.
In a heavily worded statement sent to newsrooms on Thursday, I JM says abuse of power by police is a systemic problem in Kenya that needs concerted efforts to reverse.
The statement was released by the organization’s communications manager Joseph Kariuki.
It has been signed by IJM’s Country Director Benson Shamala.
The Director termed the arraignment of the two police officers and the announcement by IPOA that six other officers will be charged for misusing their firearms, as yet another milestone on the road to justice for victims of police abuse of power.
According to their website, International Justice Mission (IJM) is a global organization that partners with local authorities to rescue victims of violence and bring criminals to justice.
The organization also endeavors to restore survivors and strengthen public justice systems.
Shamala said IJM will continue to work with the government and other partners to ensure the reform agenda in the National Police Service is realized.
“We have officers who continue to misuse their powers by extorting, brutalizing, maiming and even killing those they should protect.” He said.
He called for removal from service of rogue officers and holding them to account if the country is to realize meaningful police reforms.
Shamala commended IPOA for the tireless work they put in- in investigating the case and lauded the Director of Public Prosecutions for approving the prosecution of the officers.
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