Amina Kibirige
8 July 2009
Nairobi — Muslim leaders have condemned the removal of Mombasa chief magistrate Catherine Mwangi.
They said the removal would undermine the war against the sale of hard drugs in the region because Ms Mwangi had introduced harsh penalties for traffickers.
Chief Justice Evan Gicheru sent the magistrate on forced leave two days ago and replaced her with Ms Rosemelle Mutoka, who was based in Machakos.
On Wednesday, the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya organising secretary, Sheikh Mohammed Khalifa claimed that Ms Mwangi's transfer was engineered by those opposed to her deterrent sentences against drug dealers.
"We believe her transfer was brought about after she started issuing strict sentences against drug peddlers and traffickers which amounted to eight years imprisonment or Sh1 million fine as compared to the earlier lenient punishment," said the cleric.
According to him, Ms Mwangi started handing down the enhanced sentences after a meeting with the council on how best to fight the drug menace at the Coast.
Sheikh Khalifa said the Chief Justice Gicheru would make Kenyans lose confidence in his office.
"The recent killings of the two AP officers due to their involvement in the war against drugs is a clear indication that Kenya is now being ruled by a group of Mafia who are in offices as high as Parliament, fighting to protect the interest of drug traffickers," said the cleric.
He also criticised, a recent government move to plead on behalf of Kenyan students jailed in China for involvement in drug trafficking.
The council's vice-chairman, Mr Hassan Omar, also criticised police spokesman Eric Kiraithe for issuing a press statement in defence of the Western Police boss King'ori Mwangi, who has been criticised by human rights activists since the killing of the two Administration Police officers by regular policemen.
Mr King'ori was the Coast Provincial Police Officer until he was transferred to Western Province after the killings.
His sentiments were supported by Muslims for Human Rights executive director Hussein Khalid who called for Mr Kiraithe's resignation for interfering with investigations into the case.
"The least the police should do is conduct investigations as directed by the Internal Security Minister, Prof George Saitoti," said Mr Khalid.
In an interview with the Nation, Mr Kiraithe had asked Kenyans to be patient and give investigators time to get to the bottom of the killings of the AP.
He said the killings had attracted a lot of speculation from different groups some of which were using the case to push different agendas.
"Such a case is very sensitive and requires thorough screening before a decision can be reached," Mr Kiraithe said and described the case as a serious matter.
"Rather than be pushed by euphoria, we have to be sure of what we say when we finally present the report to the minister for action," he said.
The family of the two slain officers, Mr Badi Mwajirani and Mr Juma Mwagatu, have asked the government to release the officers' personal effects including mobile phones and ATM cards that they had in their possession when they were killed.
Mr Khalid of Muhuri also said that his organisation had launched independent investigations into the killings.
"We have spoken to the wives of the deceased officers and have now written to police headquarters requesting the availing of the two officers implicated in the shooting for interrogation," he said.
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