Confusion over rape suspects arrest

There was on Sunday confusion over whether suspects in the gang-rape of a Busia pupil four months ago had been arrested and taken to court.

This was after the Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo posted a tweet on his twitter handle announcing that those behind the ghastly incident had been apprehended.

Mr Kimaiyo made the announcement while responding to mounting pressure from members of the public to take action against the suspects who violently attacked the teenager on June 26 and were yet to be arrested.

It read: “Thank you all for tweets #JusticeforLiz. The matter is almost concluded and suspects have been arraigned in court awaiting hearing date. IG’’

The 10.15 am post sparked a quick response from Kenyans and non-Kenyans, with some thanking him for the response but asking to know whether action would be taken against police who mismanaged the case.

@JamilaHanan said: "We are hoping for a fair trial and fair justice. Thank you." Another twitter user @marilynkamuru said: "Sir, you should be apologising that we needed to put this much pressure for your office to act on behalf of a 16-year old girl."

Another tweet from his handle later in the evening read, “our investigations are complete we’re awaiting normal process from DPP. IG.” This was followed by another tweet that went on to say, “The file has been processed through the normal channel and forwarded to the DPP for advice. IG.”

But there was immediate confusion when the Sunday Nation sought further details about when and where the suspects were arrested, and in what court they had been charged.

Mr Kimaiyo did not immediately respond to the telephone and text messages.

When contacted, Police Spokesperson Zipporah Mboroki asked the Sunday Nation to withhold the story until she confirmed with the police boss whether indeed he had posted the information.

“Do not publish the story until the confirmation is made. He may not have been the one who posted that information and it would be misleading to attribute it to him,’’ Ms Mboroki said. She declined to comment on the status of the case.

Earlier, Teso CID boss Washington Muthee had told the Sunday Nation that no arrests had been made, as the local police were still awaiting directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions KeriakoTobiko.

“The position remains the same. There are no arrests yet. The file is in Nairobi with the DPP and we cannot move until we get instructions from that office,’’ said Mr Muthee who is sitting in for for his Butula colleague Shradrack Bundi who has bee leading the investigations.

At least 511,000 people had by 4.30pm Sunday signed a petition on the Internet urging Mr Kimaiyo to arrest and prosecute the rapists. The campaign #JusticeForLiz was started by Kenyans on social media through an international online network called Avaaz and has attracted widespread attention.

They also want police officers who on June 27, let three of the suspects get away with a slap on the wrist – the three were asked to cut grass as punishment - before they were released.

At about the same time Mr Kimaiyo’s tweet was posted on Sunday, Busia County MP Florence Mutua was on her Twitter handle urging more people to sign the online petition to pressure the DPP and the police to act.

“Please sign up for JusticeforLiz.....waiting for a move from Tobiko???’’ the ODM MP said in her post.

Mr Tobiko told the Nation on Wednesday that he had received the file and directed the immediate arrest of the suspects. He said he had also directed an inquiry into the circumstances under which police at the Tingolo AP Camp released the suspects and how they handled the teenager’s case.

In Tingolo, children right’s campaigner Mary Makokha speaking with the girl’s uncle identified as Leonard said there were no reports on any arrests.

“Nobody has been arrested. From the village, the stories we are getting are that one of the suspects is living with a relative in Changamwe (Mombasa) and another in Bungoma,’’ said Ms Makokha of Butula based Rural Education and Economic Enhancement Programme (Reep).

Responding to Mr Kimaiyo’s post, Ms Mutua said: “We have always wanted them arrested and charged in court. We would like to know which court they are being taken to and when they were arrested,’’ she told the Sunday Nation.

The teenager’s mother also expressed surprise at the news. “I have inquired at home and been praying for justice. But nobody has information about any arrests,’’ she said from Gynocare Fistula Centre in Eldoret where her daughter is admitted.

In the meantime, doctors treating the 16-year old girl have expressed confidence that she is on her way to recovery and would walk stating that they were happy that she was responding well to treatment.

Nation Media Group initiated a campaign to help the Standard Seven pupil get treatment and justice which received overwhelming support. So far, well-wishers have donated over Sh700,000 to the medical kitty the firm set-up after the Nation’s DN2 published a story on the girl’s plight.

Following the story, the police initiated investigations but there have been no other reports of any arrests.

On Wednesday, Nation staff visited the girl in hospital and gave a total of Sh583,000 to pay for the bills.