Kenya officers detained for murder of human rights lawyer News
Kenya officers detained for murder of human rights lawyer

Kenyan authorities have detained three police officers for their involvement in the murder of a human rights lawyer. The officers have not yet been charged with the murders, but a judge announced they will remain [BBC report] in detention for two weeks as investigations are conducted. The body of Willie Kimani, a Nairobi lawyer working for the human rights and law enforcement organization International Justice Mission (IJM) [official website], was found [NYT report] on Friday along with a client and a taxi driver. Mr. Kimani had accompanied his client, Josephat Mwenda, to court after filing a complaint against a police driver for unlawfully shooting him in the arm. Mr. Mwenda had accused the police of “harassing him for more than a year after” filing the report. The three went missing shortly after leaving the courthouse.

The murders have outraged the international and domestic communities. A statement by 34 international human rights organizations condemned [AI report] the murders and hundreds have taken to the streets of Nairobi to protest [Swiss Info report] extrajudicial killings in the capital. Western governments who provide financial support to Kenya have also expressed [Guardian report] their concern over the murders and are urging [NYT report] the country to reform and comply with international human rights standards.