Whistleblower in schoolgirl shooting goes into hiding
Umazi Zani (right), the mother of 14-year-old Kwekwe Mwandaza, a Class Four pupil in Kwale County who was mysteriously shot by police on August 21, 2014, speaks about the shooting at the offices of Muslims for Human Rights in Mombasa. Police must be held accountable for their use of guns on innocent defenceless Kenyans, including children. PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT |
What you need to know:
- Mr Mwangoka said his problems started last Tuesday when he was told some people were looking for him.
- He says that after his escape, those after him turned on his colleague, Mr Michael Mingi, with harassment and intimidation.
- Police shooting of Kwekwe Mwandaza, a Standard Four pupil, at Maweu Village in Kinango Division sparked national outrage.
A Coast-based human rights activist, who blew the whistle on the killing of a 14-year-old schoolgirl in Kwale County, is on the run after unknown people started tracking him.
Speaking from his hideout on Sunday, Muslim for Human Rights (Muhuri) official Abdulrahman Mwangoka said he was worried that those looking for him had “ulterior motives”, hence his escape from his Kinango Township home.
Police shooting of Kwekwe Mwandaza, a Standard Four pupil, at Maweu Village in Kinango Division sparked national outrage.
Police initially claimed that eight armed officers were acting in self-defence after the girl threatened them with a panga.
Mr Mwangoka is among the human rights officials, who demanded action against the officers involved.
“Demanding independent autopsy and opposing the sudden burial of the victim on Saturday evening seems to have touched some raw nerves somewhere,” he said. “But the national reaction to the killing is what broke the camel’s back.”
PEOPLE LOKKING FOR HIM
Mr Mwangoka said his problems started last Tuesday when he was told some people were looking for him.
He says that after his escape, those after him turned on his colleague, Mr Michael Mingi, with harassment and intimidation. He said Mr Mingi, too, ran for his safety and was no longer interested in the human rights job.
The killing is under investigation by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority. Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko has asked for the file in the case.
Mr Mwangoka told the Nation that he had, with the help of some government officials, been able to evade his pursuers. “But my greatest worry is my immediate family, which may get in trouble because of the schoolgirl case.” He asked police to protect his family.
Muhuri Rapid Response Officer Francis Auma urged Inspector-General David Kimaiyo to ensure the safety of Mr Mwangoka.
Meanwhile, Mr Hussein Zani, the shooting victim’s uncle, said four CID officers visited their home on Saturday to interrogate the family.
He said Kwale CID boss Wilfred Ogega and the officers questioned the girl’s father Mwandaza Yawa, her mother Umazi Zani and an eight-year-old boy, Mgandi George, who witnessed the incident, from 11am to 3pm.
They were interrogated separately.
