Officer in Lamu woman's death yet to be arrested and charged

Margaret Njeri, who died at Pandya Memorial Hospital in Mombasa following head injuries inflicted by a police officer who was trying to stop a boda boda she was riding on. The officer is yet to be charged with the offence and he seems to have gone into hiding. FILE PHOTO | WACHIRA MWANGI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Japheth Isaboke of the DPP's office said the whereabouts of the policeman were unknown but that he was being sought by officers in Malindi.
  • He said the policeman’s mobile number, which was being tracked, had apparently been changed.
  • Mr Isaboke said the DPP’s office was following the matter but had delayed in taking action as there were some technicalities involved.
  • The victim, Margaret Njeri, died on Saturday at Pandya Memorial Hospital in Mombasa where she was admitted and remained unconscious.

A policeman who allegedly caused the death of a 22-year-old woman after hitting her off a speeding boda boda is yet to be arrested and charged.

The Mpeketoni police officer is said to have thrown a gun at a boda boda rider in an attempt to force him to stop but instead seriously hurt the passenger, who later succumbed to her injuries.

A senior prosecution counsel in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in Lamu County, Mr Japheth Isaboke, told the Nation that the DPP’s office had recommended that the policeman be prosecuted and charged with manslaughter.

“We have already recommended prosecution of the officer who did that. We have recommended manslaughter charges against him because there was no intent for murder,” Mr Isaboke said.

But he indicated that the whereabouts of the policeman were unknown but that he was being sought by officers in Malindi, where he is said to have gone on a short leave.

“The officer has not yet appeared at the DCIO’S offices in Malindi and his lawyer, who promised to present him, has not turned up. He seems to have gone into hiding.

“Police in Malindi are actually doing a physical search for the officer. From our office, we have done our part of recommending charges and it is the responsibility of the police to arrest him,” Mr Isaboke added.

PHONE NUMBER CHANGED

He said the policeman’s mobile number, which was being tracked, had apparently been changed.

“They have tried to even track him through his phone, but he seems to have changed his line, but somehow he has to be arrested,” he added.

He said that after the incident the officer was immediately transferred from Mpeketoni to Hindi so that he would not interfere with investigations.

Mr Isaboke said the DPP’s office was following the matter but had delayed in taking action as there were some technicalities involved.

“There was a delay in the case because we could not tell whether the victim would survive or not and we could not even charge the officer with murder or manslaughter. There was a technicality issue,” he added.

Mr Isaboke said the officer would be charged in Lamu once he is arrested.

The victim, Margaret Njeri, died on Saturday at Pandya Memorial Hospital in Mombasa where she was admitted and remained unconscious with serious head injuries after the January 17 accident.

She fell off the motorcycle after the policeman’s rifle hit her on the left side of the head, throwing her onto the road as the boda boda rider rode off.

The family, however, is making funeral arrangements as they await an autopsy later Thursday.