Family demands justice for shot kin

The family of Galano Hassan Yusuf and human rights group Haki Africa yesterday condemned his killing allegedly by a police officer at a carwash in Kiamaiko, Nairobi, on Tuesday.

At the City Mortuary, where the post-mortem on the body was conducted, the family appeared to blame his death on recent pronouncements by President William Ruto and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure  Kindiki on police conduct.

Yusuf, who ran the carwash, has left a young family. He was 33 years old.

The opposition yesterday said at least 50 people were killed in recent demonstrations to protest high cost of living.

“This is a clear and open case of extrajudicial killing happening in broad daylight. nNo protests, no chaos, but simply a dispute of the management of the carwash,” Hussein Khalid, Haki Africa Executive Director said at City Mortuary.

Khalid said the post-mortem had revealed that Yusuf was felled by a single long range shot, clearly indicating that it was intentional.

Dispute

The autopsy shows the bullet hit his back and exited through the mouth.

“We have witnessed the post-mortem of Galano Hassan Yusuf and Dr Ndegwa has confirmed that he died of a single shot from the back, the bullet exited through the mouth and fractured the base of the skull,” he told the press.

Khalid said the deceased was the chairman of a carwash and had been called to arbitrate on a dispute between attendants and a motorcycle rider who had allegedly refused to pay for cleaning services.

“Yusuf wasn’t there when the dispute broke out. But the police intentionally followed and shot him dead,” he said.

“The use of excessive force is happening all the time in informal settlements,” he added, pointing out that the people being targeted are low income earners.

Khalid wondered why President Ruto “was letting the police kill the people he had pledged to uplift during the campaigns”.

“On a daily basis, we are at the mortuary doing autopsies of police bullets. This is not right,” he said.

Khalid added: “Unfortunately, the pronouncements by the President, the CS Interior and the people close to them are encouraging this kind of impunity because every day, they are commending the police for what they are doing, killing and maiming unarmed Kenyans,” he said.

Jobless youth

Khalid said most of the police killings in slums took place in broad daylight.

“In the last one month or so, over 30 deaths by police bullets have been documented. This is unacceptable. Action must be taken now. Enough is enough with police killings in this country. We are tired as Kenyans,” he said.

He called for action to be taken against the police officer who shot Yusuf, saying he was well known.

“We want to see that person arrested and arraigned as soon as possible. We don’t want delays and excuses that investigations are being conducted because the evidence is clear. He should be arraigned and justice be served,” he said.

According to a family member, Yusuf hired many jobless young people in the slums at the carwash.

“Now you have taken him away from the community. What do you expect these young people to do? We are calling for justice for Galano,” Khalid said.

Yusuf’s sister-in-law said the incident leaves the family with many unanswered questions. She said her brother-in-law was killed for no reason by the police.

“They are killers, in fact they are the real criminals.Why do we have the law if it can’t protect us from these criminals in police uniform?” she posed, and called on the government to ensure justice is delivered.

Outering riots

She added: “Who are we going to run to if the government which is supposed to protect us is the one killing us? Why are the police killing innocent people who are not armed? Why shoot someone from behind who is innocent?”

On Tuesday enraged residents of the Kiamaiko area protested the killing, making Outering Road impassable.

Some reports claim Yusuf was killed during an attempt by police to recover a stolen motorbike, resulting in a violent engagement with residents.

The day-long clashes saw angry youth light bonfires on the roads blocking motorists and other users for hours, prompting police to redirect traffic to alternative routes.

“The man who was killed is my neighbour and a very calm guy. He is the chairman of this carwash. When the cops came he was trying to calm the youth when tensions rose and then the cop shot him,” said Halima Wario, a resident.

Social rights activists from the Mathare Social Justice centre also condemned the incident, saying it was a clear case of extra-judicial killing.

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