Kenyans in Tanzania jails to know fate Friday

Arusha-based African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights is set to make a landmark ruling on Friday in a case in which 10 Kenyans have blamed the Tanzanian government of unlawfully and forcibly arresting them in Maputo, Mozambique.

The court’s Senior Information and Communication Officer Sukhdev Chhatbar said the application 006/2013 Wilfred Onyango and others v United Republic of Tanzania will be determined from 10am in Arusha on March 18, 2016.

The Kenyans, who have been in jail for the last 10 years, allege they were lawfully in Mozambique seeking business opportunities when they were, on January 16, 2006, kidnapped and airlifted to Tanzania, where they have been incarcerated since and charged with murder and three charges of armed robbery.

The judges heard the applicants and the respondent State in May 2015 during its 37th Ordinary Session in Arusha. During the hearing the Tanzanian government said the Kenyans were arrested in Mwalimu Nyerere International Airport after being brought by Mozambican military aircraft.

The Kenyans, who have since been sentenced to 30 years in jail, are Wilfred Onyango Nganyi, alias Dadii, Peter Gikuru Mburu, alias Kamau, Jimmy Maina Njoroge, alias Ordinary and Patrick Mutheee Muriithi, alias Musevu.

The others are Simon Githinji Kariuki, Boniface Mwangi Mburu, alias Bonche, David Ngigu Mburu, alias Mike, Gabriel Kungu Kariuki and Simon Ndungu Kiambuthi, alias Kenen. Two of the suspects, Peter Kariba and John Odongo Odhiambo, died in custody in Tanzania.

The court is composed of 11 judges from African Union member states elected in their individual capacity. Up to February 29, the court had received 74 applications of which 25 have been finalised. Four applications have been transferred to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the statement added.