Muslim clerics in Mombasa have condemned the killing of a brave protester Rex Wanyike Masai in Nairobi on Thursday. His peers state that he was shot by a plain cloth Police officer during anti-Finance bill 2024 protests.
The nationwide protests took centre stage in various counties including Mombasa and Kilifi counties on Thursday and Friday.
In an armature video circulating the social media, a plain cloth Police officer is seen shooting at the protesters.
One shot aims at the 29-year old protester Rex Wanyike Masai on the hip and he falls down—though a colleague is asking police to help him out and seek urgent medical attention at a nearby hospital but according to Masai’s friend, the police say ‘leave him to die’
It’s this reckless inhumane statement from the said police service that has returned back to a police force injuring and killing protesters, who their mistake perhaps was to exercise their constitutional right.
Hard questions
“Why do you use live bullets to unarmed protesters? In Kenyan history, these are the peaceful protests witnessed ever in the country. As religious leaders we fully back these protests,” said Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) Secretary General Sheikh Mohammad Dor.
The former Nominated MP said is it painful for police officers to shoot at youth who were protesting against the Finance bill, unarmed.
“As a Council, we have been closely monitoring these protests on social media, local mainstream media and the international media where the youth were expressing their displeasure with the Finance Bill and the way Kenya Kwanza government is forcing and imposing issues on Kenyans. These youth, were only carrying mobile phones, handkerchiefs and bottles of water, some with placards, was it necessary to injure and even kill one of them?” posed the Former Kenyan Ambassador to Oman.
Sheikh Dor also scoffed at the police officers for injuring journalists who were on duty.
He urged relevant government authorities including the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) to immediately initiate investigations against the Police officer who is said to have killed Masai.
[Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya-CIPK Secretary General Sheikh Mohammad Dor while addressing the Press at Mbaruk Mosque in Mombasa on Friday, June, 24. Photo/Ahmed Omar].
“No even single life should be lost as the youth famously known as Gen Z are protesting against what they know it will not only hurt them but their parents and the entire community too,” added the Muslim cleric.
Action
Meanwhile, IPOA has already initiated its investigations against the Police officer who allegedly killed Masai during Thursdays demonstrations in the Kenya’s Capital, Nairobi.
IPOA Chairperson Anne Makori said the protesters have been very peaceful and they did not at any time destroy property nor battle security agencies.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) wrote to IPOA on Friday urging it to launch investigations against the police conduct of using excessive force, killing an innocent protester.
In the letters DPP Renson Ingonga asked IPOA to furnish him with all the details and circumstances of the killing within 21 days, for legal action.
Meanwhile, the protests continue from Monday next week before the final reading and voting of the Finance Bill 2024 on Tuesday, June 25.
