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Kenya: Fourth suspect detained in the murder of human rights lawyer

Kenya

Authorities in Kenya have placed a fourth policeman in custody suspected of being involved in the killing of a human rights lawyer, his client and a taxi driver.

The Administration police officer will be detained for 13 days following investigators request to extend custodial order against him.

During a court appearance in Nairobi, it was highlighted that the suspect is linked to the abduction and subsequent murders of the lawyer and two others.

So far, three other Administration Police officers have been detained for interrogation and recording of statements.

Some senior Kenyan police officers have also appeared before a court in relation to the murders and to answer questions on extra judicial killings.

The killings have sparked outrage in the country bringing to light a series of extra judicial killings in recent years.

Kenyan lawyers declare week-long boycott over murder of colleague https://t.co/pT2IYSzUJs

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On Monday, lawyers and members of civil society organisations began countrywide protests.

The Law Society of Kenya has vowed to hold a week-long boycott of the courts.

The post mortem results indicate that the lawyer Willie Kimani, his client and the taxi driver were hit by blunt objects and strangled.

Meanwhile, Nigerian lawyers have offered their support to their Kenyan counterparts stating that “all lawyers must be allowed to represent their clients without fear.”

The Nigerian Bar Association has called on Kenyan authorities to thoroughly investigate the incident.

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