Seven police officers who allegedly killed a protester in Nakuru on June 9, will remain in custody until June 24 when the case against them will be mentioned.
This is to allow the Independent Policing Oversight Authority IPOA to conclude investigation into the circumstances that led to the shooting of Daniel Mwangi.
The Director of Public Prosecution Tuesday told a Nakuru Court blood samples from the deceased and from the bullet had been taken to the Government Chemist for analysis.
A bullet retrieved from Mwangi’s chest has also been forwarded to the ballistic unit for examination.
Sargent Nicasio Njue, corporals Eric Mwangi and John Kihara, and constables Naftali Gitonga, Ephantus Njeru, Marceler Tanui and Isaac Anampiu are accused of killing Mwangi in London Estate. The prosecution further submitted that they were yet to trace and record statements from key witnesses.
The court also heard that the shooting elicited a lot of public anger. “The safety and the security of the suspects cannot be guaranteed if they are released on bond because residents within the London estate are angry with them,” the prosecution told the court.
However, Senior Resident Magistrate Cynthia Muhoro noted that the accused had been in custody for seven days, and ordered that they be held at the Menengai Police Station for a week.
While opposing the continued detention of the suspects, the defence accused the prosecution of abusing the court process, saying the seven were not a flight risk.
