Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi has condemned the killing of three individuals last week in Junju, calling on the security agencies to make sure that the perpetrators of the heinous crime are brought to book. – By Ramadhan Kambi.
Addressing reporters in his office in Kilifi town, the governor said it was sad that the three individuals were accosted, attacked and lynched, by a mob in a very sad case of hooliganism and gross injustice.
The incident happened at a place where the victims are well known within the community.
On Sunday, the inspector General of Police Hilary Mutyambai said police will not rest until all those who took part in the killing of the three people are arrested to face justice.
“The three individuals who have since been identified by the Police as Sidik Anwarali Sumra, Rahil Zulfikar Mamdani and James Kazungu were inspecting land, with the intention of buying it when they were attacked by the mob,” said Governor Kingi.
Although the Governor said the matter was under active investigation by police, he condemned the incident and said it was disheartening that there still exists such kind of conduct in which a group of people took the law into their own hands, attacked and killed their fellow Kenyans for reasons that are simply inexplicable.
“The sad thing about this whole incident is that the victims of this attack, particularly Mr Sumra, are well known to residents of that area. Mr Sumra owns a dairy farm in Kimbalala where he has employed a number of locals who, alongside their families, are direct beneficiaries of this investment,” he said in a statement to the media.
He said it looked like the killers had their own motive for the act because definitely, the victims were not new to the village and were not strangers.
“I want to assure the families of the victims and the people of Kilifi County that I have had talks with the police and given them my full support that whoever committed this heinous crime must face the full force of the law. This is a serious crime and should be handled as such, without any attempts to camouflage it in any way and for any nefarious reason. As the Governor of Kilifi County, I have been struggling to invite investors to our county to set up businesses and create jobs for our people. Unfortunately, incidents such as what happened only serve to convey the message that Kilifi is not open to investors,” he said.
He said those who sat, planned and executed this outrageous deed will carry their own cross. If they were incited by anyone, let them reveal to us who incited them.
“Kilifi residents are a law abiding people and, as leaders, we will not sit back and allow a few individuals to stain the good name of our county by such extreme acts of hooliganism,” he said.
The governor also urged the community in Junju to fully cooperate with the police to make sure that those who carried the attacks or planned the whole thing face justice.
Mr Mutyambai said initial investigations on the three people showed that they were attacked and killed with sharp and blunt objects as they surveyed a shamba in the area.
“We are warning leaders suspected to be involved in goons and engaging in recklessness and inciteful activities around the area they will meet the fully force of the law,” said the IG in a statement on Sunday.
