Trial for alleged criminals begins in November

Nairobi, Kenya
Originally posted September 21, 2016

A fifth suspect was arrested last week and charged yesterday in the murders of IJM investigator Willie Kimani, IJM client Josephat Mwenda and hired driver Joseph Muiruri. The man, a civilian, joins four police officers who were charged earlier this year in connection with the murders. He is not being identified for security reasons.

Media, attorneys, family members and other community members packed a Nairobi courtroom for the arraignment. The killing of the three earlier this summer has escalated demands for police accountability and an end to extrajudicial killings by Kenyan law enforcement.

“This arrest is an important step toward justice for the murder of three men who were protecting the poor from police abuse,” said James Kironji, Director of Casework for IJM Kenya. “We continue to urge authorities to do all they can to prosecute every perpetrator who was involved in the deaths of our colleagues.”

Kimani, Mwenda and Muiruri were abducted in June as they were leaving a court hearing in an IJM police abuse of power case. Their bodies were discovered in a river eight days later, sparking a public outcry for justice from local and international legal societies, human rights groups, politicians, and diplomats.

In July, four Kenyan police officers were charged with three counts of murder by the Kenya High Court for the disappearance and death of the three. The trial for all five suspects begins in November.

IJM has called on police to continue thorough investigations of additional suspects and bring to justice every perpetrator who was involved in the murders.

International Justice Mission is a global organisation that partners with local authorities to rescue victims of violence, bring criminals to justice, restore survivors, and strengthen public justice systems.