Mercy: Questions police must answer

The family of the university student who died in mysterious circumstances two weeks ago is asking why it is taking the police so long to conclude investigations into the tragedy.

“We wonder why it has taken so long when there is so much going for investigators,” said a family member of Mercy Keino who requested anonymity so as not to antagonise the investigators.

Police reported that 19 people attended the party but it has now emerged that only 12 had recorded statements.

The police have also not established the identity of the man who reportedly met Mercy and her cousin in Westlands and took down their names and why he had to remain behind after taking the names.

There were reports that the investigators could not be allowed into the compound of Wasini Luxury Homes. Under Section 20 of the Police Act, a police officer investigating an alleged offence may enter any premises and search for anything necessary for the purposes of such investigation without a search warrant if he has reasonable grounds to believe that the delay occasioned by obtaining a search warrant would substantially prejudice such investigation.

Although the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mr Keriako Tobiko, had directed Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere to thoroughly investigate the matter, there are still many unanswered questions. Mr Tobiko has seconded two senior prosecutors to give technical and legal advice to the investigators.

The Police Commissioner reported that Mr William Kabogo joined the group in the company of a male friend who he identified only as Joram.

The police have neither identified Joram by any other name nor have they established what role he played at the party.

Accounts given to the police in witness statements say some people in attendance tried twice to eject Ms Keino from the venue for misbehaviour but it is not clear why they later tried “in vain” to restrain her from leaving.

It is also not clear how Mercy overpowered them if at all she was drunk as reported.

Mercy’s spleen was shrunken, a sign of an acute blood loss. However, the traffic police officers who visited the place where the body was found reported that there was very little blood at the scene.

Had the autopsy established the presence of defence injuries, they could have been proof that she was attacked and at least tried to a certain degree to ward off the assault.

Again, with the multiple injuries, it was difficult to establish if there were defence injuries.

Why would several drivers run over the body? The owner of the Mercedes Benz, Mr Wycliffe Lugwiri Okello, reported that he swerved to avoid running over the body.

Was there thorough examination of the Mercedes Benz to establish if there were wiped traces of blood inside the car as recommended by the pathologist, Dr Johansen Oduor? 

Records at the Kenya Revenue Authority reveal that the vehicle was initially registered as KAT 494R but the registration number was later changed to KBM 400H. Why were the numbers changed and when?

Dr Oduor said he had found it difficult to establish whether Ms Keino died before or after she was run over by motor vehicles because some injuries occurred after death.

During the burial of Ms Keino, her father, Mr Joseph Keino, told mourners that the death was shrouded in mystery.