Monson family fears ‘police intimidation’
Alexander's father, Nicholas Monson with his ex-wife Hilary Martin at South Coast Diani's seashores , has instructed lawyers to conduct an independent inquiry with a view to taking action against the police who killed their 28 years-old Alexander Monson .photo Elkana Jacob
The family of the late British Aristocracy heir, Alexander Monson, has raised concern over alleged harassment by people suspected to be plain clothes police officers. This follows an incident where five people who identified themselves as police officers attached to the Diani police station showed up at the family house on Saturday evening.
The five were onboard a yellow taxi which was spotted againaround the same area on Sunday. The occupants of the car claimed to be following on a lead after an i-pad was stolen at the Moi international airport. Alex’s mother, Hillary Martin, said she had stepped out for lunch but on coming back was notified by her cook that some men wanted to search the house over a lost i-pad.
She said the chairperson of South Coast residents association Lutiana Pearazzi called the Kwale police boss over the incident, but was informed that the officers were not from Diani. “I have suffered a lot and should be left alone. I am still mourning the murder of my son. We again saw the car and called the security group. We don’t know if these are police officers or are just imposters. The security group says they couldn’t do anything since the OCS had no information, and so they couldn’t question them, and again, it has nothing to do with Diani police station,” she said.
The family has since reported the incident to the police. “I am quite fearful, I don’t know what to do or think about this whole incident,” she added. According to one of the family’s employees who spoke on anonymity for fear of victimization, the five did not identify themselves properly. He said only one showed him a Kenya police identity card while the others refused to identify themselves.
Alexander Monson was taken ill on detention at the Diani police station in May after being arrested for allegations of smoking bhang. He died soon after at a nearby hospital. Pressure has been mounting from human rights bodies for a speedy probe into killings at the coast. Police however denied the allegation saying the Saturday incidence was a normal police operation.
Kwale police boss Richard Mugwai said police were investigating an i-pad stolen at the airport. He said that the suspect was within the area around the Monson’s residence and police were on a door-to-door search. Last month, investigators from the police headquarters went to Diani to investigate the death of Alexander whose cause of death has not yet been clear.
Muslim for Human Rights (Muhuri) has blamed the police and the government for failing to carry out investigations on murders at the coast. “Police have failed in their mandate. Innocent Kenyans are dying and police are carrying investigation whose results are not seen,” said Muhuri rapid result officer Francis Auma.