DPP Tobiko orders joint probe into Rogo killing

The Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko has directed a joint investigation into the killing of Sheikh Aboud Rogo August 28, 2012

What you need to know:

  • The team will submit the investigation file to the DPP within 14 days with findings and recommendations.

The government has set up a high level team comprising officers from both government and independent agencies to investigate the killing of fiery Madrassa preacher Sheikh Aboud Rogo.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Keriako Tobiko appointed Assistant Deputy DPP Jacob Ondari to coordinate the team that will comprise representatives from his office, the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA), the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), the Commission on Administration of Justice and the Police.

The move by the DPP appears aimed at winning the confidence of Kenyans in the investigations into Sheikh Rogo’s murder after the preacher’s wife, Haniya Said Sagal accused the police of killing her husband.

In a statement, Mr Tobiko called for “comprehensive, independent and expeditious investigation into the murder with a view of apprehending and bringing to justice the perpetrators of the crime.”

“The team will submit the resultant investigation file to the DPP within 14 days with findings and recommendations thereon,” he added.

The team set up by Mr Tobiko was more inclusive than the one that had been announced by Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere when he addressed the National Conference on Peaceful Elections at the Bomas of Kenya.

Mr Iteere had stated that the team will comprise officers from the CID, the DPP’s office and the IPOA, making no mention of the other agencies included in the investigations by Mr Tobiko.

“We have sent a CID team and officers from the office of the Director of Public of Public Prosecutions to start investigations immediately. I have also spoken to the head of the Independent Police Oversight Authority and asked him to investigate the killing also. With this team, the truth will some out,” said the police boss.

Mr Iteere braved a barrage of questions from delegates from Coast province attending the Conference on peaceful elections regarding Sheikh Rogo’s murder.

The delegates interrupted his speech demanding to be told who was behind the preacher’s murder and what the police was doing to quell the violence that rocked Mombasa following the Monday shooting.

Mr Iteere was quick to absolve police officers from any involvement in the preacher’s death.

“The shooting and killing of an innocent person is unacceptable. I have spoken to my officers in Coast province and they have assured me that none of them was involved. It is annoying that people are quick to point fingers at the police,” he said.

He assured the delegates that security had been beefed up in Mombasa and Coast province in general to restore peace following an outbreak of violence in the town in the aftermath of the killing.

Protesting youths smashed motor vehicles, looted shops and attacked four churches in Mombasa after unknown gunmen shot the preacher dead in broad daylight.

Sheikh Rogo, accused by the US government and the United Nations of having links with the Al Shabaab was shot dead near Bamburi on the Mombasa Malindi highway as he drove his wife to hospital.

The gunmen who had been trailing Sheikh Rogo’s vehicle suddenly pulled next to him near the Pirates public beach and its occupants sprayed his van with bullets.

Sheikh Rogo’s wife, Haniya Said Sagal who was shot on the leg immediately blamed her husband’s murder on the police and turned down their offer to take her to hospital.