In Summary
Mr Njuguna had visited KNCHR offices two weeks ago expressing fears that his life was in danger.
Kenya top human rights lobby has termed Thursday’s killing of Mungiki spokesman Njuguna Gitau Njuguna “an assassination.”
Officials at the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights said that the Mr Njuguna had visited their offices two weeks ago expressing fears that his life was in danger.
And they provided records of his October 16 one-hour visit from three p.m.
Vice Chairman Mr Hassan Omar and Commissioner Anne Njogu said the manner of his death raised lots of questions.
“It was a well planned and well thought of idea that took lots of time to execute…it was an assassination,” said Ms Njogu while addressing a news conference at the commission’s headquarters in Nairobi.
Said Mr Omar: “How do you just kill someone in the middle of one of the city’s busiest streets then walk away as if nothing had happened. Its a high time security officials got to the bottom of this.”
Similar sentiments have also been made by lawyer Paul Muite.
Mr Njuguna was felled by unknown assailants inside a mobile shop in the city’s Luthuli avenue.
Witnesses say the bullet tore through his eye and stomach, killing him instantly.
The Vice Chair said although his encounter with Njuguna at their offices was brief, he was clearly informed that officers from the dreaded Kwekwe squad were after his life.
The Kwekwe squad was established a few years ago to deal with the Mungiki, but police insist that it was disbanded earlier this year.
“I was in a hurry leaving the office so we did not speak much…but we agreed that we would meet a few days later to discuss the matter in detail. This was never to be,” said Mr Omar
“But I asked him whether it was true it was really the Kwekwe squad that was after his life since police claim it had been disbanded but he told those were lies. The squad was still in operation.”
Police have since distanced themselves from the shooting.
Internal Security PS Francis Kimemia said on Thursday reports from his officers on the ground had indicated that Njuguna had been arguing about money with two other men.
“Police are on full alert. They will track down and know who did it. It is very easy to blame the police but let the law enforcers investigate the matter first.”
Mungiki has been accused of waging a campaign of bloodshed and extortion, the latest being the massacre of dozens of villagers in Mathira, Central Kenya in April.
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