Six legislators visit bereaved family, call for speedy probe

Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko has said he is ready to adopt a 13-year-old girl whose parents were brutally murdered and their house set on fire last week at Patanani, Kwale County.

The girl, Merashid Suleiman, remains the main witness of the arson case since she saw everything that happened before alerting neighbours, in an attack associated to land dispute.

On Sunday, six legislators visited the family and called for speedy probe into the incident and eventual arrest of those behind the murder, saying this will avert escalation of such incidents. 

SOLE WITNESS

During the visit, the senator said he was ready to adopt the girl and stay with her in Nairobi.

"If the aunties will give me the go ahead, I will take her to my home so that she can stay with my family. Her security is very important at this crucial time," Sonko said.

The senator was with MPs Zainab Chidzuga (Kwale), Aisha Jumwa (Kilifi), Gonzi Rai (Kinango), Khatib Mwashetani (Lunga Lunga) and Gideon Mung'aro (Kilifi North).

Sonko, who also urged police to speed up investigations into the killings, paid this semester's fees for another family member, Rashid Suleiman, who has just joined Mt Kenya University to undertake studies in clinical medicine.

Chidzuga, who is also related to the deceased, presented a donation of Sh300,000 from the government with a top up of Sh100,000 from the MPs who visited the family.

The money is intended to construct a house for the bereaved family at their ancestral home in Golini.

"We want those who have been left behind to also continue with their life and this is not the end of our assistance," said Chidzuga while presenting other basic amenities that included bedding and utensils.

Mwashetani said the incident was "barbaric and one that should never be repeated or allowed to reoccur anywhere else".

The MP urged police to take the matter seriously and nail the culprits.

CRUCIAL LEADS

Speaking to The Standard, Matuga sub-county deputy commissioner Chedotum Kamunyan said police already have crucial leads into the brutal killings and arrests will be made soon.

"The girl also remains our main witnesses as we continue with the investigations," Chedotum said.

The young girl was the last born of Suleiman Mwamtsumi and Mwanamisi Mwamtsuni who lost their lives, together with their two grandchildren aged between 10 and 12, last Tuesday after their house was set ablaze by suspected arsonists.

"The incident occurred between 7 and 8am and we only learnt of it after Merashid informed us that their makuti thatched home had been set ablaze with her family indoors," said the village chairperson, Tunu Daba.

He continued: "Recently there was a land case which was however solved amicably. We now wonder what the real motive of this attack could be."