Coast MP’s slain cousin had changed his ways, ward rep says

The former employer of a slain terror suspect who was Kisauni MP Rashid Bedzimba's cousin, has said the deceased had reformed after surrendering to authorities.

Former Mombasa County Assembly Majority leader Khamis Mwabashiri on Monday said he employed Salim Hanjari as his personal assistant in 2013.

“He was my PA. We grew up in the same neighbourhood. He helped me to clinch my seat (in the General Election) and in turn, I made him my PA,’’ said Mr Mwabashiri, the Mjambere Ward MCA.

He said 38-year old Hanjari, who was shot dead in his house in Junda, Kisauni, on Thursday evening, surrendered to the authorities and “got his name cleared in 2014” before Mr Nelson Marwa, who has since been promoted to Coast regional coordinator.

These claims were supported by Bamburi MCA Riziki Fundi.

“He was (Aboud) Rogo’s follower, but we talked to him and he reformed, surrendered and his name was cleared,” Mr Mwabashiri said of the slain suspect whom he described as being “more than a brother” to him.

In what appeared to be a contradiction of remarks by Mr Bedzimba, the Mjambere MCA said the man continued to work as his personal assistant, even after he was ousted as the majority leader, until his death on Thursday evening.

Mr Bedzimba and Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho termed his killing by police as extra-judicial, saying he was innocent.

However, Mr Mwabashiri said: “But early this year (March) police raided his two houses, where his first and second wives live, but he was not around at that time. That’s when his troubles started, so he left the country and went to Tanzania to do his business and came back later and went underground,” he said.

“He was later ambushed by police in his house last week while he was with his family watching TV. They beat up his child, mercilessly killing his father in front of him yet he had surrendered. But his child ...told me what transpired including those things planted by the police.”

After the killing on Thursday, Kisauni deputy police boss Walter Abondo said grenades, ammunition and explosives were recovered in Mr Hanjari’s house.

He was killed alongside Kibwana Ahmed alias Rajab. Mr Fundi claimed the killing was “a set up’’ and described Mr Hanjari as “a peaceful man”.

“He had never been to Somalia. I have known him since 2010,” he said. Another MCA, who sought anonymity, said the suspect had dodged a police dragnet several times.

“He was so quiet, but the suspicion about his activities was well-known by everyone at the assembly,” said the MCA.

Mr Julius Ogogoh, the executive director of the Commission for Human Rights and Justice, urged Mombasa politicians to stop meddling in the affairs of the police and let them do their work.