Families of slain Kawangware men ask IPOA to probe shooting

Families of four young men who were killed in Kawangware by police last week for alleged robbery with violence have accused the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa) of dragging the investigations. 

Dickson Opuka, the father of Robert Okinjo, one of the slain men, said that he reported the matter to Ipoa on last Thursday.

Six days later, Mr Opuka has lamented that, no action has been taken.

NO WORD

“They promised to contact us, but we haven’t heard a word from Ipoa since. We are still waiting to hear from them,” Opuka said.

Ipoa spokesperson Dennis Oketch, had Monday told the Nation that a team of investigators had already been dispatched to the crime scene to undertake preliminary investigations.  

“Our team is already on that matter. Once we ascertain culpability [on the part of the police] we will send our files to our deputy for review,” Oketch said.

“We have a team that responds rapidly to fresh incidences like these. They will conduct preliminary investigations before advancing to full investigations,” Oketch said.

“When we respond to that kind of incidences, we visit the crime scene and the local police jurisdiction and speak witnesses to satisfy the preliminary investigations,” said Oketch.

The families, however, deny any contact from Ipoa. 

“No one from Ipoa has visited us.  The crime scene remains untouched since the day of the shooting,” Michael Chavanji, Okinjo’s brother, told the Nation.

The family had to seal off the house where the alleged shooting took place, to prevent anyone from tampering with the crime scene. 

JUSTICE

“We want this matter to be concluded as soon as possible and justice to prevail,” he added.

While the police report says that the four were killed for robbery with violence, Okinjo’s family has remained adamant that their son and his three friends were killed in cold blood, even after surrendering.

They insist that Okinjo was not a gangster.

The 18-year old boy was a Form Four student at Winners Secondary School in Kawangware.