Speed up investigation of our two disappeared kins-families tell security agencies

A close relative addresses the press at Haki Africa offices on Monday photo by Pauline Kwamboka

BY PETER KOMBE

Two families in Kikambala, Kilifi County are pleading for justice following a tragic disappearance of their two kins about 11 days ago.

The two brothers, Juma Said (26) and Samuel Riango (30) allegedly disappeared after attending a disputed land court session at the Shanzu law court.

Speaking to the media in Mombasa on Monday Haki Africa deputy director Salma Hemed accused the police on claims of being reluctant in following up the case.

She says despite reports delivered by locals in various police stations on the same nothing has been done by the authorities so far.

 “The case is about two families who are allegedly said to have disappeared on 11 July 11^th after they attended a court session at Shanzu law court,” she noted.

The gender activists wants the police to speed up the investigation to unfold the disappearance mystery of the two brothers.

The family also alleges that another kin Moses Charo Kombe also disappeared and later died yesterday.

“It was around 10am when the two brothers disappeared. So far the police have not taken the matter with its seriousness. There is nothing that they have done,” she said.

According to the family the death of Moses still remains a mystery.

Ms. Salma points out that as per reports by family members the accused are still walking scot free in their neighborhoods.

“The accused are still walking scot free. This is too bad. If a leader who was elected by the people can do this. This is very wrong,” she explained.

Jeremiah Nyambu national chairperson of Residents Land Protection Organization of Kenya a non-governmental organization says over 75,000 locals in Mtwapa have no permanent settlement.

He wants the police department to speed up the investigations on the tragic disappearance of the two brothers.

“The question of land has been a contentious issue hare at the Coast. It is surprising that leaders whom we elected can rally against us. We do not have leaders,” Mr. Nyambu said.

Mr Nyambu is accusing the police department on claims of merging with local administrators to infringe on the rights of the common man.

According to him the land question has been a thorny issue especially the coast region.

Lamari Lugo, a Kanamai local is accusing a certain politician (name withheld) for the fate befalling the locals in the area.

He says the locals have been living in fear due to eviction threats eviction by the said politician.

Lugo said “I have been living in the forest for over two years,”

He notes that their houses were torched two weeks ago by the politician.

Living in fear Lamari says his identification card was taken by a certain and has been spending most of his time in the thicket for almost four years.

According to Jeremiah Nyambu the disputed land has an area of 230 hectares with 471 families claiming ownership of the parcel of land.

Haki Africa rapid response officer Mathias Shipeta says the organization has so far received 8 cases of enforced disappearance this year alone.