DCI takes over probe into killing of man at Kirima land

 Charles Otieno who succumbed to gunshot on August 15, 2024, following a land dispute in Njiru. [Courtesy]

A team from Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters has taken over investigations into the shooting to death of Charles Otieno following a stand-off over a parcel of land in Njiru.

The death of Otieno brought to fore the bitter fight between hired gangs and the Kirima family attempting to reclaim the more than 1,000 acres in Njiru, Choka and parts of Mihango.

The court last year declared that the land belongs to late politician Gerishon Kirima. For decades, Kirima’s family has been fighting to reclaim the land, which had been grabbed by cartels, sub-divided and sold to unsuspecting Kenyans.

Following the court ruling, the family has been trying to regularize ownership of the land by urging those who have constructed structures to register with them in a process aimed at legally recognising the occupiers.

Otieno was among a group that had confronted a team from Kirima side that had been deployed on the ground to survey a parcel whose owner had expressed interest in being registered.

He is said to have been hit by a “stray” bullet fired by one of the men in the surveying team on June 13, 2024. The man, a licensed gun holder, was allegedly acting in self-defence after sensing danger.

Witnesses at Kamatuto area, said Otieno’s group had threatened to attack the Kirima team before hell broke loose.

He succumbed to gunshot wounds while receiving treatment in hospitals.

The deceased’s family has accused police off cover-up. “All we want is justice for my son,” said Otieno’s father, George Odongo.

Last Thursday, DCI headquarters indicated that it had taken over the investigations. Kayole Sub County Criminal Investigations Officer (SCCIO) Simon Waithaka said the probe will soon be concluded.

“We did our investigations and forwarded our report to DCI headquarters, and are optimistic that the DCI investigations will collaborate our findings,” said Waithaka.

Police said, the regularisation is being frustrated by cartels opposed to the exercise that apart from issuing title deeds to facilitate legitimate ownership, will pave way for proper provision of amenities like water, electricity and roads.

Many homeowners are living in fear after being warned against regularizing the parcels they bought from grabbers who hid behind registered self-groups that encroached on the land and claimed ownership that was overturned by the court.

“There are some individuals who do not want to the regularisation process to succeed, and have been frustrating the exercise through intimidations and threats,” said Waithaka.