IPOA Investigating Another Police Killing in Mombasa

Muhuri rapid response officer Francis Auma and chairman Khelef Khalifa at IPOA offices in Mombasa on December 3, 2019,/ ERNEST CORNEL.

Lobby Muslims for Human Rights wants the body of Shafi Salim Shafi exhumed and a postmortem done.

Shafi was allegedly killed by police at Mwembe Kuku, Mvita, on Tuesday. Police claimed that he was a criminal.

A family member swore an affidavit and said they will neither seek legal redress nor conduct a postmoterm.

“It is my humble request your kind office/hospital release the body to the family for purpose of burial. We do not intend to take any legal action or ask for any compensation,” the affidavit sworn by one Swabra Hussein Ahmed read.

“We as the family have decided the body does not undergo any postmoterm or body stored at the morgue as per Islamic Sharia.”

Family and friends buried Shafi at Kikowani cemetery on Wednesday at 1pm.

But Muhuri chairman Khelef Khalifa on Thursday said the lobby will pursue the case as a matter of public interest. This means no consent from the family will be needed.

Muhuri wants to know whether the shooting was done at close range. “If it’s at close range, it means police had the opportunity to arrest Shafi but didn’t. This will be premeditated murder,” Khalifa said.

The chairman said through the Independent Policing Oversight Authority and Independent Medical Legal Unit, Muhuri will seek court orders to have the body exhumed.

Ipoa has started recording statements from witnesses.

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