Mercy victim of hit and run accident, police say

BY BERNARD MOMANYI

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null 1/1 Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere/Mike Kariuki NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 29 - Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere says investigations into the death of university student Mercy Keino indicate that she died after being run over by one or more motor vehicles on Waiyaki Way. He said an autopsy report in possession of detectives undertaking the investigation showed that the body had severe injuries, a smashed head, multiple fractures on the arm, legs and bruises on other parts of the body. "Observations on the injuries on the body were consistent with the injuries on a body run over by a motor vehicle or motor vehicles," Mr Iteere said. Police are still waiting for results of a toxicological examination carried out on the student's body. Mr Iteere said they had not been able to establish which vehicle or vehicles hit Ms Keino. Quoting statements recorded by 12 witnesses at the Parklands Police station, Mr Iteere told journalists the woman had attended a party held at a luxurious apartment block in Westlands where she had been invited by her cousin Scolastica Namwai Kamemba. Ms Kamemba told police she telephoned the deceased at about 6.30pm on June 17 and invited her to the Westlands party. The information is consistent with records extracted from the deceased's mobile phone. The two, investigations show, met in Hurlingham area at 7pm and they boarded a matatu to Westlands. At Oilibya fuel station in Westlands, the two are reported to have met a lady only identified as Jacky who had invited Ms Kamemba to the party. Jacky was in the company of two men who were unknown to both Ms Kamemba and the deceased student, a preliminary report of the investigations read out by Mr Iteere stated. One of the men took the names of the ladies which was required to facilitate entry to the party venue. However, the man who took the names of the three ladies [Scolastica, Jacky and Mercy] did not accompany them when they boarded a taxi to the party venue on Church Road. "A short while later, the two men left the group to an unknown destination. They later joined the group accompanied by five other ladies and more men, making a total of about 19 people," Mr Iteere said. Quoting the preliminary report of the investigation on Mercy's death, Mr Iteere told journalists that "more food and hot drinks (whisky) were served when Juja Member of Parliament William Kabogo joined the group in the company of a male friend later identified only as Joram." "From several witnesses who have recorded statements, and who attended the party, a lot of drinks were served. The deceased took a lot of wine together with hot drinks like whisky, leading to her shouting at everybody and breaking some glasses and picture frames at the venue," Mr Iteere said. "Twice she was taken out of the venue for misbehaviour and rowdiness." According to Mr Iteere, witnesses have told the police that at about midnight, the deceased decided to leave the venue and attempts by her cousin to restrain her were fruitless. "She later disappeared towards Waiyaki Way without company, leaving her bag and mobile phone with Scolastica," Iteere said. The Police Commissioner said a motorist with a Mercedes Benz reported to have dropped off a passenger at the scene where her body was discovered has denied the facts as stated against him. Mr Iteere said detectives were now analysing a statement recorded by another motorist driving towards Uthiru who reported having seen a woman frantically waving down a motor vehicle. "On coming back driving towards town, he saw a body lying on the road almost at the same spot where the lady was waving," he said. The motorist told police he was dropping a friend in Uthiru when he saw the woman waving at a vehicle on the other side of the road. Mr Iteere has vowed to ensure the investigations are conducted conclusively, with the help of two senior prosecutors appointed by the Director of Public Prosecutions Mr Keriako Tobiko. "I assure the public that this incident will be investigated with all thoroughness and to its logical conclusion without bias or favour," he said. Follow the author at https://twitter.com/momanyi.bernard

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