Rights lobby expresses concern over delays in prosecuting Pangani cop Ahmed Rashid over brutality

Rights lobby expresses concern over delays in prosecuting Pangani cop Ahmed Rashid over brutality

Nairobi, Kenya, Mar 22-The Independent Medico-Legal Unit, a human rights group has expressed its dissatisfaction over the delay by the courts to prosecute Pangani cop Ahmed Rashid who is facing murder charges.

Rashid is accused of killing Jamal Mohamed and Mohamed Dahir Kheri on 4th Eastleigh Street, 1st Avenue, on March 31, 2017.

The statement from IMLU comes after the Milimani Law Courts deferred the plea hearing against the Pangani-based crime buster.

The rights lobby challenged the country’s judicial system to fast track cases of police brutality for the sake of justice to the victims.

“Justice delayed is justice denied. It’s unacceptable that cases of police brutality are taking years. The victims and their families deserve closure and accountability. The justice system needs to prioritize these cases and ensure that justice is served swiftly,” IMLU said Wednesday.

The case against Rashid will be mentioned on March 29, 2023 where the court is expected to issue directions on the matter.

High court  judge   Diana Mochache postponed  the plea taking  against  Rashid to allow  her address  issues  raised  by parties.

The matter  was coming  up  for the officer  to be charged  but his lawyer  Danstan Omari raised  an issue  of jurisdiction  which  he said the  court  had not addressed before  plea taking. 

The file was previously  handled  by Justice Kanyi Kimondo  who handed it over to his colleague  to handle  the matter. 

On March 2, a section of the members of the public staged demonstrations at the Milimani Law Courts protesting the prosecution of Rashid.

BRUHAN MAKONG

​Bruhan Makong is a Senior News Reporter for Capital FM in Nairobi, covering diplomacy, foreign policy, national security, climate, and human rights across East Africa and the wider region.