Court orders arrest of former Embu police boss over murder

A court in Embu has ordered for arrest and prosecution of a former Officer Commanding Station (OCS) and a police constable in connection with a murder case.

Embu Principal Magistrate, Robinson Oigara, want former Manyatta OCS, Chief Inspector Hassan Osman and Constable John Nkonge to face justice over the killing of a farmer eight years ago at Ngaragatari village, Embu County.

The court further directed that a Mr David Kariuki, who was involved in a land row with the deceased, also be arrested.

Police officers Geoffrey Munyaro and John Murimi who are mentioned in the case will also be investigated in connection with the murder of Mr Njiru Njagi Kamwerethia.

The court blamed Inspector Osman for leading a contingent of heavily armed police officers into the deceased’s houses in Embu North sub county.

Oigara said according to evidence produced, Kariuki had  acquired ownership of a land, which the deceased also claimed.

The court heard that on September 25, 2008, Kariuki went to fence the land but the deceased reportedly chased him away armed with arrows.

Kariuki reported the matter to Manyatta Police Station and two officers, Geoffrey Munyaro and John Murimi, went to arrest him but missed him twice.

The officers ambushed the deceased at his house the following morning, at around 4:00 am,  and ordered him to open the house and on defying the order, they broke a window to try gain access.

In response, the deceased injured one of the officers with a panga.

The officers called for reinforcement and Chief Inspector Osman arrived in company of six armed officers and ordered the deceased to open the house.

On defying the order once again, the police lobbed teargas into the house. A teargas canister hit the deceased on the head causing his death, the court was told.

While issuing the directives, Justice Oigara said that the police used excessive force against the farmer who was being investigated over a minor offence of creating disturbance.

The advocate representing the deceased termed the incident as a cold murder.

Written by Moses Ngugi