BBC Reveals Who The Police That Shot People At Raila’s Funeral Were Working For

An investigation by BBC Africa Eye has found evidence suggesting that three mourners were shot and killed by an elite police unit assigned to the President. The shootings happened at the national farewell for former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, whose death the country is now marking one year after.

According to the BBC, the evidence points to officers from a unit that guards the head of state as the ones who fired on the mourners. The headline says the officers were working for the President, but the report as shared says only that the unit is assigned to him. It does not say that anyone ordered the shootings, and the findings are described as suggesting what happened, not as a final ruling.

The details of how the BBC reached its conclusion have not been laid out in the information available. It is not clear which footage, witness accounts or other material were used, or where exactly the three victims were when they were hit. Their names were also not given.

The report lands at a sensitive time. Kenya is in the middle of Mwezi wa Baba, a month set aside to remember Raila. President William Ruto commissioned the Raila Odinga Mausoleum in Bondo last week, and a memorial service is set for October 15. Many mourners and ODM supporters have been recalling the events of last year, which makes the new claims even heavier.

Questions about who should answer for the deaths are likely to grow. Families of those killed, human rights groups and opposition leaders may now push for an independent inquiry and for prosecutions if the evidence holds up.

https://x.com/BBCAfrica/status/2109539568857051509

TurboNews feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com