Man charged with murder of three officers in Mombasa

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Majivuno Mwasambu in a Mombasa court where he was charged with the murder of three policemen during riots in the port city August 31, 2012. He was not required to take plea. 

By PHILIP MUYANGA pmuyanga@ke.nationmedia.com and ATHONY KITIMO akitimo@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Friday, August 31  2012 at  11:09

IN SUMMARY

• Majivuno Mwasambu ordered to appear in court on September 12 when he will plead to the charges.
• The suspect allegedly, jointly with others not before court, murdered prison officers Kipchumba Kipkoech, Kithome Mbugi, and Abdul Aziz.

A man who police suspect is behind the attacks that left three policemen dead and others injured during the deadly Mombasa riots was Friday charged in court with three counts of murder.

Majivuno Mwasambu alias Pole, who appeared before Mombasa High Court Judge Maureen Odero, was informed of the charges facing him but was not required to take plea.

Lady Justice Odero ordered the suspect to appear in court on September 12 when he will plead to the charges.

State counsel Lucas Tanui prosecuting, applied to have the suspected remanded in custody for ten days saying police had not completed investigations and a psychiatric report was not ready.

“We are seeking more time, the accused was arrested on August 30, police have not completed investigations," Mr Tanui told the court.

Asked if he had anything to say, the suspect who looked calm and composed, told the court that “let them do investigations because I was not involved”.

The suspect allegedly, jointly with others not before court, murdered prison officers Kipchumba Kipkoech, Kithome Mbugi, and Abdul Aziz.

He is alleged to have committed the offences on August 28 this year at Mwandoni area in Kisauni,Mombasa County.

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The judge also directed the High Court deputy registrar to appoint a lawyer for the suspect.

The suspect was remanded at Central Police Station.

This came as police stepped up patrols and surveillance across the Kenyan Coastal town to prevent any further riots as Muslim faithful turn up in mosques for their Friday prayers.

General Service Unit officers and anti riot police were deployed in different streets of the town as early as 7.30am as other business owners decided to shut their premises to avoid losses.

At Majid Musa Mosque, where Sheikh Aboud Rogo, the cleric whose killing on Monday sparked the deadly riots, people were advised to keep off the mosque as police sealed off the area following intelligence reports that youth were planning to cause chaos after the prayers.

Shops closed

A spot check by the Nation revealed thatmost shops were closed for the fifth consecutive day as other business people within Central Business District were asked to be vigilant as they carry out their businesses.

Police moved from one shop to the other in Bondeni area, advising proprietors to ensure all their merchandise is stocked inside their shops.

In Kisauni, where a police officer was killed and his colleagues seriously injured on Tuesday afternoon after a grenade was hurled to them, several lorries of anti-riot police were also deployed to maintain order.

The three policemen died and fourteen others were injured when a grenade was lobbed into their vehicle as they patrolled Mwandoni in Kisauni. 

Four others were injured on Wednesday night when yet another explosive was hurled at a police vehicle at Lebanon on Jomo Kenyatta avenue.