The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has issued an apology to the families of slain lawyer Willie Kimani, his client Josephat Mwenda and driver Joseph Muiruri.
Speaking seven years after the brutal killings of Willie, Josephat and Joseph, the director of operations at the DCI Saidi Kiprotich acknowledged that police failed the three families.
Kiprotich was one of the senior officers who led a team of investigators from Flying Squad and Homicide into the trio’s murders in 2016.
“We failed you. For what happened in June 2016, we are sorry. We should have protected Willie, Joseph and Josephat,” Kiprotich said.
The three were murdered by police officers Fredrick Ole Leliman, Stephen Cheburet and Silvia Wanjiku who are now serving various sentences.
Another convict- Peter Ngugi who was part of the killing plan and confessed how the chilling murders were planned and executed is similarly serving his sentence.
The three men were abducted while coming from Mavoko law court.
They were briefly held at the Syokimau AP post before they were taken to a deserted field and strangled to death.
On Friday, family, officers from International Justice Mission where Willie worked, representatives from human rights organisations, lawyers, prosecutors and police officers who investigated the crime converged to commemorate Willie and share milestones and lessons that they learnt through the 7-year trial that came to an end in early February.
IJM is an international organization that seeks to protect people living in poverty from police abuse of power.
Lawyer Kimani, was murdered while representing Mwenda, a boda boda rider who was pursuing justice after being shot and charged with framed up charges by Officer Leliman.
Speaking at the forum, IJM Africa Europe president Addy Griphins said while the Willie Kimani case was a 7-year-long struggle for justice, for the families, the journey of reflection and healing will last a lifetime.
Andy said the organization recognizes the hard work that was put together by different state agencies who played a part in ensuring a just outcome was achieved.
He said the organization appreciate the police officers who went further to give testimonies in court that helped reach a just conclusion.
"Specifically, I would like to appreciate officers Saidi Kiprotich, Robert Owino, Nicolas Ole Sina, Clement Mwangi, and the team that stood for a just cause during the investigations period, and tirelessly worked behind the scenes to ensure the culprits were arrested and charged.”
