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Mercy for Suspects Fuels Wave of Crime And Revenge
- Details
- Published on Monday, 16 July 2007 22:57
The "unwarranted acquittals" have sparked vengeance and a spiral of lynchings, the LSK West Kenya chapter said.
"We have discovered serious lapses within the police force leading to acquittals of up to 75 per cent simply because evidence was not properly put together before arraigning suspects in court," said chapter chairman James Aggrey Mwamu.
"What do the police expect the courts to do when there is no evidence to support the charges preferred against suspects?"
The large number of suspects who are being bonded to keep the peace is an indication of police failure, he said. Kisii police are heavily inclined towards bonding for peace even in cases where the crime is murder. This shows inability to handle proceedings related to crime, or a cover-up, said Mr Mwamu.
Police claim they are letting suspects go scot-free because witnesses are unwilling to testify. But Mr Mwamu says police have powers to compel people to testify.
It's foul play, say families of victims
At least 15 people have been lynched in Kisii on suspicion of being criminals. Their families swear the victims' innocence and want their killings investigated:
Mr Francis Seme of Nyamage: His son, Jared Seme, was lynched at a place called Junction on May 4. A second son is missing.
"I was arrested together with my sons, stayed in Kisii remand prison for a year but we were acquitted for lack of evidence. We have never been criminals and we want the killing of my son investigated.
"I don't know where my other son is; our efforts to look for him have proved futile. We don't know whether he was killed or is on the run."
Ms Penina Kwamboka Onono of Iriani village in Mosocho whose son, Joseph Mustapha Onono, was lynched two weeks ago:
"My son has never been a criminal. We want investigations done and those behind his killing arraigned in court."
Ms Vera Mungure, Mr Onono's widow, agrees: "My husband was not a criminal. He was only involved in brewing and selling chang'aa (an illicit brew) at Oyugis. He has never been arrested over crime. We want justice."
Relatives of Alfred Ndemo Omweri, 36, killed on the same day as Onono, but who are afraid to speak out, are accusing the provincial administration of vendetta.
"We want an administrator investigated for his involvement in the killing."
Local leaders point accusing fingers at police. Community leaders are calling for action to restore public confidence in the law enforcement system to curb lynchings in Kisii.
Catholic Diocese Vicar-General Joseph Obanyi said residents were frustrated by the release of suspects by the police and courts in "unexplained" circumstances.
"People in the village don't know about bonding of suspects to keep the peace. They believe they have bribed their way out and decide to finish them by lynching. Some light should be shed whenever such actions are taken," he said.
"We abhor, denounce and will never support lynching of suspected criminals. It is against moral law to do it."
Witnesses live in fear of reprisals by suspects, he said, adding: "Matters would greatly improve if witnesses were given protection. The situation is bad because nobody is willing to come forward and testify lest they face the wrath of the freed suspects."
He accused the police of being slow to respond to distress calls, creating suspicion that they were working with the criminals.Pastors Paul Kiage and Obed Nyamanche of the Seventh Day Adventists (SDA) want the bonding of suspects to be carefully looked at to avoid abuse.
They are proposing that special remand centres, where bonded suspects could be held until public anger cools down, be established.
"We are worried about lynching because innocent people may be killed. The Government should set up a special place where the bonded suspects would seek refuge," said Pastor Kiage.
