Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko orders file on slain Kwale girl

Kwekwe  Mwandaza (in white) a 14-year old minor who was shot dead by police at her home in mwawewu village in kinago,kwale

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Keriako Tobiko has directed the police watchdog body to submit investigations file into the killing of a 14-year-old girl in Kwale by October 3.

Mr Tobiko told Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) chairman Macharia Njeru he needed to conclude the matter.

"Noting that IPOA has been carrying out independent investigations into this matter and in order to enable this office to make a holistic decision on the same, I do hereby direct that you cause your investigations file together with your recommendations therein be forwarded to this office on or before October 3," said Tobiko in a letter dated September 29.

The DPP revealed that a police inquest file had recommended manslaughter charges against police officers who were involved in the shooting. This followed a public inquest conducted in Mombasa.

Tobiko said the inquest report was forwarded to his office on September 23 and they were reviewing the recommendations.

Kwekwe Mwandaza was felled by bullets in August when eight policemen stormed her family's home in Kinango, Kwale County.

Authorities bowed to mounting public outrage to announce they had opened investigations into the minor's murder.

IPOA opened an investigation into the shooting and announced that its officials recovered two live bullets and a spent cartridge from the ground. 

MURDER SUSPECT

Police have been clinging to the theory that Kwekwe was killed when she attacked the policemen with a machete.

They suggested the officers killed the girl in self-defence when she allegedly obstructed them from arresting her uncle George Zani, who they alleged was a murder suspect.

But Kwekwe's two cousins who claimed they were in the house at the time, contradicted the police version of events, reporting that the officers burst into their house at night after breaking their door down.

Mgandi George, aged eight years, and Luvuno George, seven, said the police then lobbed teargas into the house and as the family choked in fumes, they opened fire. Kwekwe, a Standard Six pupil, died on the spot. Mgandi claimed Kwekwe was shot while sleeping in her bed.

"They shot Mwandaza at close range," he said.

Police have since claimed the man they were looking for when they burst into the house is still at large.