MUHURI pursues justice for families of two killed in Lamu crash involving KDF vehicle

Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI) has pledged to seek justice for the families of two men who died in a collision involving a motorcycle and a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) land cruiser in Lamu.

The crash occurred on May 20, 2025, at around 3:45 p.m. in the Magogoni area of Hindi Division, Lamu West, as a KDF vehicle from Manda-Magogoni Base was en route to the Lamu Port in Kililana.

Police identified the two people aboard a motorcycle as Mohamed Yusuf, 32, who was the rider, and Karisa Charo Kazungu, 32, who was the pillion passenger.

So far, the family of Mohamed Yusuf has already taken the body and buried their kin in Lamu Island in accordance with Muslim rites.

But the family of Karisa Charo Kazungu is yet to bury their kin, with the body still lying at the Mpeketoni Sub-County Hospital mortuary in Lamu West.

The Eastleigh Voice has learnt that a post-mortem on Karisa’s body had already been done, with the family expected to transport it to Mwangani village in Marereni, Gongoni Ward in Kilifi County on Friday for burial on Saturday.

MUHURI Rapid Response Team, led by Acting Executive Director Walid Kassim, Rapid Response Officer Francis Auma and Kwale County MUHURI Coordinator Abdulrahman Mwangoka, was in Lamu on a fact-finding mission on the matter before taking legal action to ensure the families get justice.

Speaking to The Eastleigh Voice, Auma cited gaps in the ongoing investigations by the security agencies, adding that police have not fully involved the aggrieved families in their investigations.

Intimidation

“We feel there’s some sort of intimidation to the aggrieved families. In fact, we have learnt that one of the families, that of Mohamed Yusuf, has already signed an affidavit. They talked to us and said they accepted everything and they don’t want to follow up on the matter,” said Auma.

He added, “We shall stand with the remaining family, that is, that of Karisa Charo Kazungu, until justice prevails. We are not satisfied with what is happening. We have already received information from the police investigating the matter that they got very limited information from the military concerning the issue. Even the police can’t access the military vehicle involved in the accident as it's hidden inside the military base in Manda-Magogoni. That’s not right.”

He questioned why most military and police vehicles in Lamu County do not have number plates, which he said is against the law.

“You can imagine when such vehicles hit and kill someone, they can easily deny their involvement since their vehicle can’t be identified. That needs to change,” said Auma.

So far, the team has also met with the family of Karisa Charo Kazungu and obtained information on the incident.

“We shall facilitate and ensure we help the family pursue legal redress on the matter so that justice can prevail and at least be compensated for the loss of their loved one,” said Auma.

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On his side, MUHURI board member Khelef Khalifa also stressed that the organisation was committed to ensuring that the immediate family receives the support and compensation they deserve.

Khelef noted that the issue at hand necessitates immediate attention.

Justice and transparency

“It is imperative that Muhuri spearheads efforts to advocate for legislative measures mandating post-mortem examinations for individuals who are victims of police or public killings before burial. Implementing this procedure ensures justice and transparency in these grave situations. We must amplify our voices to defend those who can no longer advocate for themselves,” said Khelef.

He reiterated that in specific circumstances, it is essential to prioritise the pursuit of justice and redress for victims, even when religious customs necessitate the swift disposal of remains.

“This situation underscores the necessity for legal exceptions catering to affected families' rights and needs,” he said.

Emmanuel Kaka, the cousin of the late Karisa Charo Kazungu, described him as a hardworking and committed family man whose death has left a dent that cannot be filled.

“My cousin Karisa is the firstborn in a family of five. He was really depended on by the entire family for provision. He has also left behind a wife and a baby who is less than six months old. We hope justice will prevail on this so that at least our family can be compensated,” said Kaka.