Leaders demand justice for woman in fatal ‘boda boda’ accident

Coast leaders have demanded justice for Margaret Njeri, 22, who died last week in Mombasa after two months in a coma following injuries allegedly inflicted by a police officer.

The officer was reportedly enforcing a curfew in Mpeketoni in Lamu County when the incident occurred.

As Margaret was laid to rest at Skomani village in Mpeketoni yesterday, some leaders demanded an end to the curfew imposed last July following the killing of 65 residents in a wave of violence a month earlier.

Lamu West MP Julius Ndegwa, in whose constituency Mpeketoni lies, said the police were harassing and extorting residents in the name of enforcing the dusk-to-dawn curfew.

Margaret had been in coma since January 17, when she was allegedly hit with a gun wielded by Mohamed Salim, an officer then stationed at Mpeketoni Police Station.

The officer, who had since been transferred to Kizingitini, surrendered to the Malindi police on Thursday, and on Friday, Justice Said Chitembwe ordered a psychiatric evaluation to determine if he was fit to stand a murder trial.

Salim has denied claims he had gone into hiding after Margaret’s death, and accused the media of lynching him.

Yesterday, gloom spread across Skomani during the burial, with family members and close friends weeping uncontrollably as the body was lowered into the grave.

The burial was attended by hundreds of mourners, including Ndegwa, Lamu Governor Issa Timamy, his deputy, Eric Mugo, Senator Abu Chiaba and Lamu County MP Shakila Abdalla.

“We are not requesting justice; we are demanding for it," said the Governor, insisting that locals would file a case in court to compel the Government to compensate the bereaved family.

He demanded prosecution of the officer accused of causing Margaret’s death to deter future abuse by policemen.

Abdalla said she had written to the National Assembly, a statement on how the Government plans to compensate Margaret's family.

Several speakers, including the deceased’s employer, lawyer George Wakahiu, suggested that the road on which the fatal incident occurred be renamed in Margaret's memory.

Wakahiu also said Law Society of Kenya had assigned two lawyers to pursue the matter free of charge to ensure justice was done.

Acting county commissioner Fredrick Ndambuki promised that justice would be done.