Seven police officers suspected of shooting and killing Daniel Mwangi in London Estate, Nakuru, on June 9, have been detained for seven more days, pending investigations by Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).
The seven are Sergeant Nicasio Njue, Corporals Eric Mwangi and John Kihara and Constables Naftali Gitonga, Ephantus Njeru, Marceler Tanui and Isaac Anampiu.
Resident Magistrate Cynthia Muhoro allowed IPOA to detain the suspects at Menengai Police Station.
Despite allowing the detention, Ms Muhoro declined to grant IPOA 14 days they had sought, through the office of Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP).
Muhoro noted that the officers had been in detention for seven days, since their arrest on June 9 and a further detention for 14 days would have been prejudicial.
She, however, ruled that the prosecution raised substantive compelling reasons for the seven to remain in custody for a week.
The ruling followed Prosecutor Emma Okok’s application for further detention. She submitted that the investigations had not been concluded.
She deposed that the initially being investigated by the detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and IPOA, who have taken over the case need 14 more days for investigations.
She said that a bullet retrieved from Mwangi’s chest had been forwarded to the ballistic unit for examination and the report was pending.
Further, Okok submitted that they were yet to record statements from key witnesses and they were actually tracing some of the witnesses of the shooting incident.
The court also heard that the shooting elicited a lot of public anger and outrage which led to widespread protests.
She further submitted that the investigations were complex and the seven days they had been granted was short.
Lawyer David Mongeri who represents the officers opposed the application saying the ODPP was abusing the court process.
He deposed that the IPOA had covered all the investigations and the said detention would be prejudicial.
At the same time, the court has allowed the police to continue detaining a taxi driver suspected of killing his wife for seven more days.
Ms Muhoro allowed the detention of Zachariah Wanjohi, suspected of killing his wife Hannah Waithera, whose body was found dumped on May 26.
Muhoro ruled that Wanjohi was a flight risk since he had allegedly declined to show police officers his place of residence.
Corporal Richard Kipsang made an application, saying they had arrested another suspect in connection with the murder.
The case of the seven police officers will be mentioned on June 24, the case of the Oriti will be mentioned on June 23 while Wanjohi’s case will be mentioned on June 24.
