This archive report was first published on 14 September 2021.
On July 7, 2021, a gruesome murder took place in Junju, Kilifi County, claiming the lives of Sidik Anwarali Sumra, his driver Rahil Zulfikar Mamdani, and land agent James Kazungu. The incident has led to a lengthy investigation, with eight suspects now being detained for further questioning.
According to investigating officer Dennis Isemek, the suspects had gone into hiding after learning that the police were looking for them in connection with the killings. A multi-agency team of police officers was able to track down Robert Mganga Mwagosha, who was hiding in a Tassia estate in Nairobi. Mbosso and Rimba were arrested in Kolewa forest, where they had been hiding.
The suspects had switched off their phones after going into hiding, but were eventually arrested on Thursday last week. The investigating officer told the court that Mwagosha is the treasurer of the Junju land committee, which was spearheading the acquisition of 78 acres of land that Sumra wanted to buy. Mwagosha was accused of paying Sh300 to some people to drag the bodies of the victims from the scene.
The prosecution had initially requested that the court allow them to detain the suspects for 21 days, but was later granted permission to hold them for ten days instead.
