FBI claims it will testify

Our recent pleas to have the FBI testify at the inquest in Kenya are starting to pay off. This is the most recent article regarding the inquest:

Kenya: Ministers Named in Kaiser Inquiry

The Nation (Nairobi)
December 5, 2006
Posted to the web December 5, 2006
Francis Thoya
Nairobi

Names of two Cabinet ministers and an MP yesterday featured prominently in the ongoing inquest into the death of Mill Hill missionary John Anthony Kaiser.

Education minister George Saitoti and his Immigration colleague Gedion Konchella and Narok North MP William ole Ntimama are alleged to have offered financial support to a women's group in Trans Mara to demonstrate in Nairobi against former minister Julius Sunkuli accused of abusing schoolgirls in his constituency.

Sexual abuse

As the women were staging the demonstration, Fr Kaiser is claimed to have been investigating Mr Sunkuli over allegations of sexual abuse.

The three politicians are said to have supported the group after the Government failed to take action on Mr Sunkuli.

An inquest presided over by senior principal magistrate Maureen Odero yesterday heard that the priest died before he concluded his investigations.

His remains were discovered at the Morindet junction in Naivasha on August 23, 2000.
Catholic Women Association secretary Anne Kiruti told the court that in August 2000, women in Trans Mara angered by Mr Sunkuli's act, resolved to hold a demonstration against Mr Sunkuli over the claims.

"Since President Moi, among other key institutions, had failed to act on a petition presented to him regarding his minister (Mr Sunkuli), we resolved to hold a demonstration in Nairobi," Mrs Kiruti said.

And because they lacked money with which to organise the protest, the said they sought financial assistance from Prof Saitoti, Mr Konchella and Mr Ntimama. They were then Mr Sunkuli's political rivals.

Sixty women took part in the city demonstrations that started at the Federation of Women Lawyers offices and ended at the Holy Family Basilica.

Mrs Kiruti recounted that they travelled to the city in three matatus on August 15, 2000 at 2am, after they received information that the bus they were set to use, would be burnt.

Moved to Narok

She further told the inquiry that before meeting his death, Fr Kaiser had informed her that he had received complaints of molestation from 16 schoolgirls in Trans Mara.

"I recall Fr Kaiser agreed to support us after we informed him that we had received two complaints of sexual abuse against Mr Sunkuli," the witness said.

Yesterday, Mrs Kiruti claimed she moved from Kilgoris to Narok for fear of her life after Mr Sunkuli threatened her.

Mr Sunkuli turned up before the inquest following summons but he was stood down to allow Mrs Kiruti testify.

The court was yesterday informed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officers will take the witness stand next year to shed light on the circumstances cleading to the the priest's death.

Urgent appeal to FBI

URGENT APPEAL TO THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (FBI) IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

from

THE GENERAL SUPERIOR AND THE GENERAL COUNCIL OF THE MILL HILL MISSIONARIES (MHM)

December 1, 2006

Since August 2003, a Public Inquest has been taking place in a Nairobi Court into the violent death of the American-born Fr. John Anthony Kaiser MHM. Father Kaiser was a tireless worker for peace and justice who had spent 35 years in Kenya. On 24th August 2000, his body was found in the Naivasha area, about 40 miles west of Nairobi. On October 24th, 2000, the United States Congress adopted Resolution 146, requesting “independent and thorough investigations” into the death of this great and courageous Mill Hill Missionary. On the 26th August 2000, FBI teams became involved in the investigations, resulting in the 80 page Final Report, dated 19th April 2001, from the FBI Washington Field Office. After the release of the FBI Report, the late Senator Wellstone from Minnesota, together with the Kaiser family, the Kenyan Episcopal Conference, the Mill Hill Missionaries and the Kenyan people demanded a Public Inquest into the death of the late priest. We are aware that the FBI has been requested by the Kenyan Government to testify, but so far without result.

As the General Council of the Mill Hill Missionaries, we want justice to be seen to be done, and the whole truth of Father Kaiser’s death to be told. On behalf of all the Mill Hill Missionaries in the world, we therefore fully support the recent public appeal of the family members of Father Kaiser, urging the Federal Bureau of Investigation to return immediately the remaining exhibits, and to ensure as soon as possible that all the FBI officers who investigated the late Father Kaiser’s death and Dr. Di Maio, the Chief Medical Examiner of Bexar County (San Antonio, Texas), come to testify in the Inquest currently being held in a Nairobi Court before the Senior Principal Magistrate, Mrs. Maureen Odero.

We deeply regret the fact that the FBI at this stage is still retaining exhibits, thus depriving the Court of crucial evidence. Witnesses have testified that they gave statements and exhibits to FBI Agents, but some of these statements and exhibits are not in the official file given to the Counsels as the Police Inquiry File. Under the Kenyan Evidence Act, documents cannot be introduced in court, unless those who have written them are present and can be cross-examined by the interested parties. It is therefore of paramount importance that the FBI officers appear in Court to give evidence, produce their report and elaborate on their findings.

In the interests of justice, we strongly urge you to ensure that the FBI cooperate fully in the Public Inquest as the inquiry reaches its final stage. Lack of full cooperation by the FBI can only fuel the theory of involvement by the FBI in a cover up.

Finding the real cause of death of Father Kaiser is a matter of urgency, not only to his family and his fellow Mill Hill Missionaries, but to the whole Kenyan people, and to the people of the United States as well.

Yours sincerely,

Rev. Anthony Chantry MHM
General Superior

Rev. Brendan Mulhall MHM
Vicar General

Rev. Michael Corcoran MHM
General Councillor

Br. Jos Boerkamp MHM
General Councillor

Justice should be done to the victims of ethnic clashes

Letter to the Editor, Daily Nation
9/19/2006

As we mark the 6th anniversary of the death of Catholic priest John Kaiser this year, it is time once again to reflect on what he stood for in the fight for the respect of the rights of the internally displaced and the poor in Kenya.

The Refugee Consortium of Kenya (RCK) joined other human rights organisations in remembering a man many people have praised for being outspoken in human rights advocacy. The life and times of Fr John Anthony Kaiser is a study in courage, determination and sacrifice on behalf of the weak, the oppressed and the down-trodden.

He did not consider himself a civil rights activist or champion. His achievements have, however, emboldened and inspired many to love the truth, cherish liberty and fight for human rights. Fr Kaiser said he was just a simple parish priest. We agree and honour him.

Kenya's transition from single-party dictatorship to multi-partyism in the 1990s was accompanied by violent conflicts dubbed the "land" and "ethnic" clashes. These conflicts affected parts of the Coast, Western, Rift Valley and Eastern provinces.

The consequence of these conflicts was destruction of property and means of livelihood, fear and insecurity in society and massive internal population displacement. The victims of the clashes sought refuge in schools and church compounds where they camped and received assistance from the church and well-wishers.

And many of these are still there today, fearing to return to their homes. Others fled to shopping centres or to live with relatives in other parts of the country.

The coming to power of the Narc Government in after the 2002 elections, that ended Kanu's four-decade rule, gave hope to many of these internally displaced people that they would eventually be compensated or allowed to return to their farms. However, to date the Government has not lived up to this expectation. Instead, it has continued to downplay the scope and significance of the serious problem of internal displacement.

There is a lack of political goodwill which is, perhaps, because of the realisation and fear that the issue of land ownership remains very controversial in Kenya.

The RCK's interest in advocating for internally displaced people arises from the Government's failure to find a lasting solution to the problem for year. Our objective is to encourage a positive Government action on IDP issues and to create benchmarks on management of internal displacement in East Africa.

One important effort in this direction is through the government making a conscious effort at enacting the draft IDP law.

The blood of Fr Kaiser, who diligently suffered his congregation for years, should not go in vain. Like the blood of other Kenyan heroes before him, it should keep the flame of the war against injustice burning and ensure the protection of the voiceless.

There is no more important tribute to pay to Fr Kaiser than to fulfil his most cherished vision, that of "Standing up on behalf of the weak, the oppressed and the down-trodden."

SIMON KONZOLO
Assistant Advocacy Officer
Refugee Consortium of Kenya
Nairobi

Bishop warned over remark

The Daily Nation

Published September 2, 2006

Nairobi

A clergyman has been warned against commenting on on the death of Catholic priest John Antony Kaiser, which is the subject of an inquiry.

Senior principal magistrate Maureen Odero, who is presiding over the team investigating the death, said Kenya Episcopal Conference chairman Archbishop John Njue had "no right to use the pulpit to make populist and unsubstantiated claims about the subject of the inquiry".

"While he is entitled to his own opinion and views, he is treading on a very thin line," said Ms Odero.

She said if he had any information relevant to the proceedings, he should share it with the inquiry.

She said the court did not wish to engage in sideshows and "warns Archbishop Njue and like-minded individuals to immediately desist from making any comments touching on the subject of the inquiry".

The magistrate said the court should be allowed to make its own conclusions based on evidence adduced.

She was making a ruling on an application made by a lawyer representing former Cabinet minister Julius Sunkuli, who wanted the cleric charged for contempt of court.

Archbishop Njue was speaking at a Mass to mark Fr Kaiser's anniversary. He said Fr Kaiser fought for the rights of the needy, including land clashes victims.

Other clerics who spoke at the function said they would not rest until the killers of the Mill Hill missionary were arrested.

Yesterday, a DNA specialist, Dr Solomon Mboke, told the inquiry that he carried out tests on a piece of bone believed to have been part of the late priest's skull.

The bone was found by Naivasha Catholic parish workers on September 19, 2000, as they cleared the Morendant junction site on the Nakuru-Naivasha highway for the priest's first memorial service.

The witness said from the tests, there was a likelihood that it belonged to the priest.

Fr Kaiser's body was found on August 24, 2000, near the junction on the Nakuru-Naivasha highway, with his head blown off and a shotgun by his side.

The inquiry will resume on November 1.

Bring Kaiser's killers to book, clerics demand

Story by NYABONYI KAZUNGU Publication Date: 8/28/2006

Catholic Church leaders have said they will not rest until the killers of Father John Kaiser are brought to book. Archbishop Njue The church also asked those with information on why the priest was killed to volunteer it and testify at the ongoing commission of inquiry. In his sermon at Mass to mark the sixth anniversary of Fr Kaiser's death, the Kenya Episcopal Conference chairman, Archbishop John Njue yesterday said: "Even though we were told by the FBI that he committed suicide, we categorically rejected that verdict. It was as a result of that rejection that we instituted an inquiry, which is still on course. The inquiry is a candid indication that we are still asking who killed Fr Kaiser and why." The archbishop said Fr Kaiser was a source of inspiration and hope to the needy and his memory is still alive. "We all remember the mistreatment he received in camps (for land clashes victims). But he did not shy away... He protected human dignity, he never gave up and defended the oppressed to the end," the archbishop said. The Mass was preceded by a procession from St Joseph Cathedral in Ngong to Mary Mother of God Church in Embulbul, about 10 kilometres away. Among those at the memorial were Environment and Natural Resources minister Kivutha Kibwana and Mr Maina Kiai of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights. The Mass was led by four other bishops: Cornelius Schilder, Colin Davis, Peter Kairo of Nakuru and Peter Kihara of Murang'a. Fr Fins Eppink and Sister Nuala Ibuum from the International Justice and Peace Commission represented Fr Kaiser's Mill Hill Missionaries. Fr Eppink said: "We will not rest until the circumstances of Fr Kaiser's death are fully clarified and the findings of the commission of inquiry are acted upon." Bishop Kairo read the message from the Pope's representative in Kenya, Archbishop Paul Lebeaupin, in which he described Fr Kaiser as "a humble man who lived his life for the service of the less fortunate in society". Fr Kaiser was a recipient of this year's Milele (Lifetime Achievement) Award. The posthumous award was presented by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights on August 6 in recognition of Fr Kaiser's dedication to the pursuit of human rights and justice for Kenyans. A statement from the Catholic Church last week said that during his 36 years in Kenya, Fr Kaiser campaigned against land grabbing and corruption. "An outspoken critic of the Moi regime, he worked tirelessly for the rights of the poor and marginalised in society," said the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission. Fr Kaiser died under mysterious circumstances at the Morendat junction on the Nakuru-Naivasha road. The Government set up an inquest into his death in 2004 but it is yet to submit its findings. In 1998, the priest had told a judicial inquiry that two Cabinet ministers had trained people to rid Rift Valley Province of opposition supporters. The Government tried to deport him, but revoked the order after protests by interest groups and the international community. He went into hiding when he started receiving death threats and complained of being followed by strangers. He was later found dead.

Rights Agency Gives Kaiser Milele Award

August 25, 2006

Published in the Daily Nation

Father John Kaiser is this year's recipient of the Milele (Lifetime Achievement) Award.

The posthumous award will be presented by the Kenya Human Rights Commission during the Catholic priest's memorial ceremony tomorrow.

According to the commission, the award was in recognition of Fr Kaiser's dedication to the pursuit of human rights and justice for Kenyans.

A statement from the Catholic Church said during his 36 years in Kenya, Fr Kaiser advocated against land grabbing and corruption.

"An outspoken critic of the Moi regime, he worked tirelessly for the rights of the poor and marginalised in society," said the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission.

The cleric was killed six years ago in mysterious circumstances at Morendat junction on the Nakuru-Naivasha road.

After his death, the Government set up an inquest into his murder in 2004 but it is yet to submit its findings.

There will be a procession in Ngong Town to mark the event before Mass to be presided over by Nakuru Catholic bishop Peter Kairo at Mary Mother of God Embulbul Church on Saturday.

Bishop Cornelius Schilder of Ngong Diocese and Fr Kaiser's predecessor, retired Bishop Colin Davis, are also expected to attend the Mass.

Church to hold memorial for slain missionary

From the Catholic Information Service for Africa

August 22, 2006

The Catholic Church has organized a memorial mass for American-born missionary priest Fr John Anthony Kaiser who died in unclear circumstances six years ago.

The mass will be held on Saturday beginning 10.30 am at Mary Mother of God Embulbul Catholic Church, Ngong near Nairobi. There will be a procession from St Joseph Cathedral starting 8.30 am.

The theme of the memorial is: 'Promote and uphold human rights and dignity.'

A judicial inquest into the death of the Mill Hill missionary on August 24, 2000, is going on in Nairobi. The inquest adjourned to August 28 and will continue through September.

The Kenya National Human Rights Commission conferred the 2006 Milele (Lifetime Achievement) award on Fr Kaiser "for dedicating his life to the pursuit of human rights and justice for the Kenyan people."

Man offered cash to kill Fr. Kaiser

Story by NATION Reporter
Publication Date: 04/26/2006

A church official had allegedly been hired in 1999 to kill Catholic priest John Anthony Kaiser, a court heard.

But Mr Francis Kantai, of the Catholic Justice and Peace commission, revealed the alleged plot to the priest and informed him that he was to be given Sh100,000 to poison him.

A witness, Mr Stephen ole Naiguta, told the court in Nairobi yesterday that Fr Kaiser informed him of the murder plot after he heard about it from Mr Kantai.

Mr Naiguta said the priest wanted to know whether Mr Kantai could be trusted or whether he could carry on with the plan if he was given the money.

Big Fish

Fr Kaiser claimed that a "Big Fish" was after his life but he did not give any names, the witness told senior principal magistrate Maureen Odero.

The body of the Mill Hill missionary, who headed the Lolgorian parish of Ngong diocese, was found at the Morendat junction, on the Nakuru-Naivasha road, on August 24, 2000.

A team from the US Federal Bureau of Investigations, which joined their Kenyan counterparts on August 25, concluded that Fr Kaiser committed suicide. But church leaders and human rights lobbyists rejected the report, and demanded an inquest.

Yesterday Mr Naiguta, who is also a JPC official in Trans Mara District, told the court that the priest had insisted that his life was in danger. The hearing continues.

Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor
St. Cloud Times
March 4, 2006

Thanks for the Feb. 27 report on the Rev. John Kaiser. He certainly is a hero who we need to learn from. ...

We live with so much corruption in our world today. Kaiser took it on with courage.

The Kenyan government honors him. It is wonderful to see that a foreign government and its citizenry today, like Kenya, would honor one of our citizens. Kaiser's niece, Mary Weaver, put it very well: "We know that he was a wonderful man. But to see the People of Kenya know this and mourn his passing, it was a powerful experience for my parents."

If the people of Kenya could see his great virtue, and remember him, I am sure we can, too.

Anthony Kroll, Holdingford

Kaiser honored by Kenyan government

By Brandon Stahl

Published March 1, 2006
Fergus Falls Daily Journal

An Underwood native was given a lifetime achievement award by a Kenyan rights group for his work in the African country - work that, ironically, may have led to his death at the hands of the Kenyan government.

Father John Anthony Kaiser, a member of the St. Cloud Diocese who spent 36 years as a missionary to Kenya, was found dead in August 2004 from a shotgun wound.

The FBI and the Kenyan Criminal Investigation Division ruled Kaiser's death a suicide, but his family has long believed that he was murdered for speaking out against what he believed was then a corrupt and cruel Kenyan government.

During his time in Kenya, Kaiser was instrumental in helping to build schools, churches, hospitals and orphanages. But, his niece, Mary Weaver of Fergus Falls, said Kaiser also spoke out against the Kenya government's ethnic cleansing by forcing its citizens into concentration camps during a period of land grabs.

“He had death threats, was beaten and left out in the bush, was threatened with deportation,” said Weaver, who lives near where Kaiser grew up. “Three weeks after he died, he was supposed to testify before the Hague, the world criminal court, about the government.”

The group that honored Kaiser, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, created by a new Kenyan regime, recognized Kaiser's dedication to helping the poor in the country, but also singled out his work fighting against the Kenyan government.

“Father Kaiser stood firm in the face of intimidation and death threats,” they wrote in their posthumous nomination. “He never compromised or changed his position in the face of external pressure, but continued his struggle to protect and promote human rights in Kenya ‘til the end of his days.”

“It's almost like a public apology on behalf of the Kenyan government because of what their predecessors did,” Weaver said.

While an official government inquest into Kaiser's death has been off and on since 2002, Weaver and other members of Kaiser's family are hoping to learn the truth for themselves. Weaver believes the FBI sought to ease relations with the Kenyan government and purposefully hid information from their forensic pathologist who studied the case.

Kaiser's death was featured on numerous national news shows, including 60 Minutes. His case was also taken by the late Sen. Paul Wellstone.

Progress in her family's investigation has been slow, Weaver said, however, she may have found an independent pathologist to study Kaiser's death.

“All we want is an independent investigation,” she said. “If they come back with the same conclusions, so be it.”

Kaiser receives Kenyan honor

By Frank Lee

Published February 27. 2006
St. Cloud Times

The Rev. John Kaiser recently received Kenya's highest human rights honor from the very same government he fought against — and some say died at the hands of.

"It's ironic that he did receive this award from a government-sanctioned body," said his niece, Mary Weaver of Fergus Falls.

Kaiser, a member of the Diocese of St. Cloud, was found dead five years ago along a busy highway between Naivasha and Nairobi with a gunshot wound to the head.

The 67-year-old's death was ruled a suicide by the FBI and the Kenyan Criminal Investigation Division, but there is an ongoing judicial inquiry in Nairobi into his death.

The Perham native was an outspoken critic of the ethnic cleansing and distribution of land in the East African country under the regime of former President Daniel arap Moi.

"Many people told John to cool it. He knew that his life was in jeopardy," said the Rev. William Vos, former director of the St. Cloud Mission Office of the Diocese of St. Cloud.

-Humanitarian-

Kaiser shares the Milele (Lifetime) Achievement Award with professor Wangari Maathai of Kenya, an environmentalist, activist and winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize.

"John was a very strong person in every way — a paratrooper, a good college athlete — and also ethically," said Vos, a St. John's University classmate of Kaiser's.

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights handed out the award at a Feb. 18 ceremony attended by Bishop Cornelius Schilder of the Diocese of Ngong, where Kaiser worked.

"John just had a real clear view on what's right, and that's what ultimately led to his conflict with the Kenyan government," Vos said of Kaiser's work, which spanned three decades.

Kaiser was helping teen-age girls who accused a Kenyan Cabinet member of sexual assault, but Kaiser died within a week of the scheduled court hearings.

The FBI's report in 2001 referred several times to circumstantial evidence indicating Kaiser, a member of the Mill Hill Missionaries, had suffered from manic depression.

But in a book that was published after his death, Kaiser had written "I am not planning any accident, nor, God forbid, any self-destruction."

"The whole investigation into his death was botched," said Vos, who attended Kaiser's funeral amid thousands of mourners.

The theory that Kaiser, a Roman Catholic priest, would have committed suicide is incomprehensible to Weaver and many others.

"No way — not in my opinion — based on his faith, in which suicide is a big no-no," Weaver said.

-Life and death-

The Diocese of St. Cloud has a relationship today with the Diocese of Homa Bay in Kenya.

"One of the things that is very important to my family is that there's still an inquest happening in Kenya into my uncle's death," Weaver said.

"We've struggled to find a pathologist to do an independent review of the forensic evidence because it means going against the FBI's hired expert."

The 42-year-old is a staff writer for the Dairy Star, a semimonthly newspaper in Sauk Centre, and assistant editor of Lake and Home Magazine, a bimonthly in Fergus Falls.

"We're methodically going through every piece of evidence, and sometimes that's not always available to the attorneys representing our family without a fight," Weaver said.

Weaver would see her uncle for a couple of months whenever he returned to the United States to raise funds for various projects.

The CBS News program "60 Minutes" examined the death of the Minnesotan and featured an interview with the late U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone in May 2001.

"My uncle often played the devil's advocate just to get a rise out of somebody, but was extremely giving, passionate about everything — what he was reading, religion, what he was doing, politics," Weaver said.

Kaiser's work with the International Federation of Women Lawyers-Kenya during the investigation of the rape of Kenyan teens was cited when he received the Milele award.

"We know that he was wonderful man. But to see the people of Kenya know this and mourn his passing, it was a powerful experience for my parents," Weaver said.

About Kenya:

The International Monetary Fund, which had resumed loans in 2000 to help Kenya through a drought, again halted lending in 2001 when the government failed to institute several anticorruption measures.

Daniel arap Moi’s 24-year-old reign ended with the Dec. 27, 2002, elections, and a new opposition government took on the formidable economic problems facing the nation.

» Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania.
» Size: Slightly more than twice the size of Nevada.
» Capital: Nairobi.
» Population: 33.83 million (2005 estimate).
» Life expectancy: 48 years (2005 estimate).
» Death rate: 14.65 deaths/1,000 population (2005 estimate).
» Religions: Protestant, Roman Catholic, Muslim, other.

Source: CIA World Factbook.

Making progress

Recently I have been trying different avenues in order to obtain a forensic pathologist to review the evidence in John's murder. No sooner do I think I have someone when they disappear (not literally) off the face of the earth, never returning emails or phone calls. It's been quite frustrating.

But I have an excellent lead which I'm quite excited about. I will not provide more details until I know it's a done deal, though. I write this simply to have prayers said that it will work out in the manner we need and we're able to get an independent review.

Human Rights Citation

KENYA NATIONAL COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Citation for 2006 Milele (Lifetime Achievement) Award to Fr. John Anthony Kaiser

The Awards Committee for the Third Annual Human Rights and Democracy Awards confers the Milele (Lifetime Achievement) Award posthumously on Father John Anthony Kaiser for dedicating his life to the pursuit of human rights and justice for the Kenyan people.

During his thirty-six years in Kenya, Father Kaiser challenged the Government on corruption and advocated against land grabbing and excess by local politicians. An outspoken critic of the Moi regime, he worked tirelessly for the rights of the poor and marginalized in society. Father Kaiser devoted himself to working with the internally displaced following ethnic clashes in the Rift Valley in 1992. In 1998 he told a judicial inquiry that two cabinet ministers had trained people to rid the area of opposition supporters. Following these accusations, he was told to leave the country and went into hiding, but due to protests from the Kenyan people and successful lobbying from the U.S Government, the decision to deport him was revoked.

Father Kaiser was a firm supporter of women’s rights in every aspest of his work; he courageously protected and supported two girls who were alleged to have been raped by a cabinet minister. He helped furnish the evidence that the Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA- Kenya) relied on to institute a private prosecution against Julius Sunkuli, previously a minister of State in the Office of the president.

Father Kaiser stood firm in the face of intimidation and death threats. He never compromised or changed his position in the face of external pressure, but continued his struggle to protect and promote human rights in Kenya till the end of his days. We honour his lifetime achievement and hope that the mystery surrounding the death of this committed individual will one day be unraveled.

Human Rights Crusader Wins Award

A Catholic missionary priest whose death five years ago still remains a puzzle has been awarded the country's highest human rights honour.

Fr John Anthony Kaiser shared the Milele (Lifetime) Achievement Award with noted environmentalist and human rights crusader, Prof Wangari Maathai, winner of the 2004 Nobel Prize for Peace.

The award was given by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) during a ceremony attended by among other guests, Bishop Cornelius Schilder of Ngong Diocese, where Fr Kaiser worked.

The national human rights group said Fr Kaiser dedicated his life to the pursuit of human rights and social justice for the Kenyan people during his 36 years in the country.

"An outspoken critic of the [former President Daniel] Moi regime, he worked tirelessly for the rights of the poor and marginalized in society. Fr Kaiser devoted himself to working with the internally displaced people following the State-engineered ethnic clashes of 1992."

Fr Kaiser was found dead in mysterious circumstances on August 24, 2000. A judicial inquiry into the death continues in Nairobi.

In 1998, he told a judicial inquiry that two cabinet ministers had trained people to eliminate opposition supporters where he worked. As a result, he was told to leave the country and went into hiding.

"Fr Kaiser was a firm supporter of human rights in every aspect of his work," the Commission said. "He courageously protected and supported two women who are alleged to have been raped by a Cabinet minister, who also happened to be the Minister for Internal Security."

He worked with the federation of Women Lawyers (Fida-Kenya), which sued Julius Sunkuli, then a Cabinet Minister, in connection with the allegations.

He stood firm in the face of intimidation. He never compromised or changed his position in the face of great pressure, but continued the struggle to protect and promote human rights till the end of his life.

"We honour his lifetime achievement and hope that the issues surrounding the death of this committed individual will one day be unravelled," the Commission said.

Court looking into priest's death to visit church house

Court looking into priest's death to visit church house Story by NATION Reporter Publication Date: 2/21/2006

A court inquiring into the death of Catholic priest John Anthony Kaiser will visit a church house where he spent his last evening. It will then hear more evidence from a witness who interacted with the priest before his death in 2000. The Mill Hill missionary was last seen at the house of the Ngong diocese bishop on August 23, 2000, only hours before he died. His body was found at Morendat junction on the Nakuru-Naivasha road with part of the head blown off. Suicide verdict A team from the US Federal Bureau of Investigations, which joined the Kenyan detectives on August 25, concluded that Fr Kaiser, who headed the Lolgorian Catholic parish in Ngong, committed suicide. But church leaders and human rights lobbyists rejected the report and pressed for an inquest. The priest was at the Ngong diocese on the evening of August 23, 2000, looking anxious, tired and in fear of something, the diocese's vicar-general, Fr Francis Mwangi, told the inquest. Fr Mwangi, the caretaker of the bishop's house, said Fr Kaiser told him that he wanted to rest and was directed to a guest room. Took away blankets But Fr Kaiser was in the room for less than an hour and drove out. He took away blankets, bed-sheets and a pillow, which were later found near his body the following morning. The only other place where he is said to have been spotted that night was in Limuru, Kiambu, where he drove into a home and left after a short while. Yesterday, former Nakuru CID boss Mary Kipchumba Ruara told the court that she first suspected the priest had been killed. She said the investigations were then taken over by other officers. The inquest continues this afternoon.

Moi was involved

Priest tells Kaiser probe of Moi link in evictions Story by MARK AGUTU Publication Date: 02/16/2006

President Daniel arap Moi sanctioned the eviction of displaced families who were taking refuge at Maela following tribal clashes over decade ago, an inquest heard yesterday. A priest, Fr Francis Mwangi, said the Head of State visited the victims camping at Maela along the Nakuru-Narok border in November 1994 and promised them "a Christmas gift". However, come Christmas eve, all the displaced families at the trading centre were kicked out, contrary to their expectations, the priest said. "It dawned on us that the eviction was the Christmas gift the president had promised," Fr Mwangi told magistrate Maureen Odero at the inquest into the death of Father John Antony Kaiser. The two priests were at the time stationed at Maela, helping the families which had ran away from their homes in the wake of tribal clashes. "When the President made the promise, we were happy that something good was finally going to happen. But Fr Kaiser cautioned us to wait and see instead of celebrating," Fr Mwangi said. The two priests were themselves bundled out of Maela by policemen on December 27 at 10pm on "orders from above". Fr Mwangi, questioned by Mr Mbuthi Gathenji, for the Catholic Church, said the evictions later drew international attention and led to visits by high-profile figures, including an American envoy, who was blocked from reaching the displaced families. Later, Fr Kaiser compiled a report of human rights violations and presented it to the a judicial commission of inquiry into the disturbances. But testimony on the alleged approval of the clashes by President Moi was expunged from the inquiry records, Fr Mwangi said. The hearing continues.

Kaiser was murdered

'Brother': Kaiser was murdered Story by NATION Correspondent Publication Date: 2/7/2006

A missionary brother yesterday claimed that there were some people behind the death of Catholic priest Anthony Kaiser. Brother Alfonse Borgmam told a Nairobi court that Fr Kaiser did not commit suicide. However, he did not name those he believes were involved in the murder. The missionary brother said his conclusion was based on what he had seen before and Fr Kaiser expressed fear for his life. Brother Borgmam also told the court that he knew Fr Kaiser as a strong man who had a strong conviction. He was testifying during an inquiry into the death of Fr Kaiser. Fr Kaiser, a Mill Hill missionary who headed the Lolgorian Catholic Parish in Ngong, Kajiado District, was found dead at Morendant junction on the Nakuru-Naivasha road. His head had been blown off and his shotgun lay nearby. Committed suicide A team from the US Federal Bureau of Investigations, which joined Kenyan detectives on August 25 to investigate the death, concluded that Fr Kaiser committed suicide. But church leaders and human rights lobbyists rejected the report and pressed for an inquest. The missionary brother said he knew the priest since 1960 when they first met in London. Brother Borgmam, who has been in the country since 1974, said he shared a table with the Catholic priest a day before his death. Fr Kaiser, he said, travelled from Lolgorian and came to Nairobi on August 21, 2000. "The arrival of Fr Kaiser coincided with my birthday party,' he said, adding that he had invited the priest to the birthday party but he failed to attend. According to brother Borgmam, the priest had an appointment with the Pope's representative in Kenya the following day. He said he drove the priest to the place where he was to meet with the Pope's representative. He said on their way to the Nuncio's place, he noticed that Fr Kaiser was in a very low mood but didn't ask why. The priest, he noted, appeared unsettled. The hearing continues.

I didn't seize women, probe told

I didn't seize women, police chief tells Kaiser probe Story by NATION Reporter Publication Date: 01/25/2006

An assistant commissioner of police yesterday denied forcibly removing two young women from the custody of a lobby group which had given them refuge from alleged sexual harassment. The women, Ann Sowayo and Florence Mpayei, willingly left the premises owned by the Federation of Women Lawyers Kenya (Fida) after being persuaded by their mothers, Mr Skewer Mbogo told the inquest into the death of Catholic priest John Antony Kaiser. They were later returned to their Trans Mara home, Mr Mbogo said of the September 5, 1999, incident. Earlier that day, he said, the mothers of the two women went to his office at Kilimani police station in the company of a councillor and informed him that the women were being held by Fida against their will after leaving home two months earlier. "They requested me to rescue their daughters from the place where they were being held against their will," Mr Mbogo told inquest magistrate Maureen Odero. However, when the team arrived at the Fida staff house in Ngumo estate, they found the young women comfortable and there were no signs that they were prevented from leaving, Mr Mbogo said. The two took on their parents demanding to know why they had reported the matter to the police. This confirmed to him that the parents and the civic leader had given him misleading reports. Mr Mbogo, who was being questioned by State counsel James Mungai and the lawyer for the Catholic Church, Mr Mbuthi Gathenji, denied that he was under orders to remove the two young women from Fida custody. Fr Kaiser was found dead at the Morendant junction on the Nakuru-Naivasha highway on the morning of August 24, 2000. His head had been blown off and a shotgun lay nearby. The hearing continues this afternoon.

CID talks

I can account for my trip, CID man tells Kaiser probe
Story by MARK AGUTU
Publication Date: 01/26/2006

A senior CID officer yesterday pledged to account for his movements weeks before Catholic priest John Kaiser was found dead.

Assistant commissioner of police Francis Njiru said he would table before an inquest into the priest's death details about his travel to Rift Valley Province. The priest was found dead near Naivasha Town.

Answering questions from State counsel James Mungai and later Catholic Church lawyer Mbuthi Gathenji, the officer denied any involvement in the death of Fr Kaiser.

"That is a total lie," he said in response to a question by Mr Mungai, who informed him that a witness had linked him to the murder.

He told Nairobi magistrate Maureen Odero: "I didn't, repeat, didn't kill him. I never knew him until his death was reported in the daily newspapers."

He promised to bring work tickets and imprest forms to show exactly when a crack unit he had led to Rumuruti in Laikipia reported back to their base in Nairobi in early August.

His team of between eight and 10 officers had travelled to Rumuruti on the instructions of CID boss Francis Sang to combat carjackers in the area.

And after the operation, in which a few people were arrested, the team passed through Nakuru Town where they reported to the provincial police headquarters before returning to Nairobi.

But asked whether he had records showing when the team came back, Mr Njiru said he could produce work tickets and imprests which bear details of payments to confirm the day of return.

The priest was found dead near the Morendat junction on the Naivasha-Nakuru road on the morning of August 24, 2000, with is head blown off and a shotgun lying nearby.

The hearing continues tomorrow afternoon.

Police chief speaks

I didn't seize women, police chief tells Kaiser probe Story by NATION Reporter Publication Date: 01/25/2006

An assistant commissioner of police yesterday denied forcibly removing two young women from the custody of a lobby group which had given them refuge from alleged sexual harassment. The women, Ann Sowayo and Florence Mpayei, willingly left the premises owned by the Federation of Women Lawyers Kenya (Fida) after being persuaded by their mothers, Mr Skewer Mbogo told the inquest into the death of Catholic priest John Antony Kaiser. They were later returned to their Trans Mara home, Mr Mbogo said of the September 5, 1999, incident. Earlier that day, he said, the mothers of the two women went to his office at Kilimani police station in the company of a councillor and informed him that the women were being held by Fida against their will after leaving home two months earlier. "They requested me to rescue their daughters from the place where they were being held against their will," Mr Mbogo told inquest magistrate Maureen Odero. However, when the team arrived at the Fida staff house in Ngumo estate, they found the young women comfortable and there were no signs that they were prevented from leaving, Mr Mbogo said. The two took on their parents demanding to know why they had reported the matter to the police. This confirmed to him that the parents and the civic leader had given him misleading reports. Mr Mbogo, who was being questioned by State counsel James Mungai and the lawyer for the Catholic Church, Mr Mbuthi Gathenji, denied that he was under orders to remove the two young women from Fida custody. Fr Kaiser was found dead at the Morendant junction on the Nakuru-Naivasha highway on the morning of August 24, 2000. His head had been blown off and a shotgun lay nearby. The hearing continues this afternoon.

"I had no role"

I Had No Role in Kaiser's Death, Says CID Officer

The Nation (Nairobi)

January 24, 2006

Nairobi -- A senior CID officer yesterday denied having a role in the disappearance and death of Catholic priest John Anthony Kaiser.

Acting superintendent of police Julius Kikwai ole Sunkuli expressed shock at the allegation that witnesses had linked him to the killing.

"I am really shocked to hear that," said Mr Kikwai, a cousin of former Cabinet minister Julius ole Sunkuli.

"It's a lie; I have never been associated with the matter at all."

The officer said he was in his house at Langata estate in Nairobi with his family on the night of August 23/24, 2000 when the priest was found dead near Naivasha.

Fr Kaiser's body was found at the Morendant junction, on the Nakuru-Naivasha road, with his head blown off.

His firearm lay by the body.

At the time of his death, he was the priest in charge of the Lolgorian parish of the Ngong Catholic diocese.

Mr Kikwai was at that time the deputy CID boss of Embakasi, Nairobi.

He has since been transferred to Trans-Nzoia District to take charge of a division.

The officer was answering questions from state counsel James Mungai and lawyer Mbuthi Gathenji, for the Catholic church, during the hearing of the death inquest by Nairobi magistrate Maureen Odero.

Mr Gathenji told the officer that a witness had linked him to a plot to murder the priest.

But Mr Kikwai said he was nowhere near Ngong where the priest was based, or Naivasha where his body was found.

He also denied knowledge of the involvement of police, especially the flying squad, in the plot as claimed by Mr Gathenji.

The CID officer said he had also recorded a statement with American agents, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, who had joined Kenyan police in investigating the killing.

He was not aware that he had been implicated in the priest's death, he said.

Who is safe?

With all these killings, who is safe today?

Story by STEPHEN MUIRURI CRIME EDITOR
Publication Date: 1/14/2006

A string of high-profile murders remains unsolved – some stretching back for more than 30 years; some as recent as New Year's Eve – making people fear for their safety as never before.

Many husbands, wives, businessmen and women believe they are at risk from hired hit squads in the streets and in the sanctity of their own homes.

Some fear even to answer a knock at their own front door.

For bloodthirsty killers have shattered the lives of families across the nation – yet the police appear powerless to track them down and force them to face justice in court.

All the unsolved murders have one thing in common ... they were apparently executions carried out in cold blood by gangland hit squads – killers for hire.

Some of these killings took place more than 30 years ago yet remain unsolved. Others are as recent as December 31, when Mombasa Port police chief Hassan Ahmed Abdillahi was shot dead outside his own home.

Other recent unsolved murders include the killing of the lecturer and Bomas delegate Prof. Crispin Mbai – shot dead in front of his own hearth – while unsolved high profile murders from yesteryear include the assassination of politician Tom Mboya in 1969, MP J. M. Kariuki in 1975, and former Foreign minister Robert Ouko in 1990.

Even the police themselves do not know exactly how many unsolved murders are on their books, although they admit they run into the hundreds.

CID director Joseph Kamau said yesterday that the number of unsolved murders was "worrying", but added he was "pleased" with the way his officers were carrying out their investigations.

And he revealed: "We have formed a Homicide Unit based at CID headquarters and their job is to specialise in murder investigations."

Mr Kamau added: "We have been sending the officers to every corner of the country to help local officers to track down killers. We are a bit overwhelmed but more officers will be deployed to the Homicide Unit."

He said the unit had highly-trained investigators, most of whom were young and had just completed their intensive training.

Mr Kamau continued: "The CID is capable of handling the murder cases. We are going to pump more resources into the Homicide Unit."

Police could only know the motive for each murder after investigations were complete.

The hit squad killings were "isolated incidents which should not be linked to each other," he said.

Apart from new murders, the Homicide Unit had also taken up old cases which have remained unresolved.

His comments came as statistics released by police commissioner Mohamed Hussein Ali showed the number of murder cases nationwide had actually declined slightly in the past two years.

Police records showed 1,320 people were killed in 2004 compared to 1,153 between January and November last year.

A number of murder and other capital offence trials were thrown out by the courts last year after magistrates and judges accused the police of conducting shoddy investigations.

For their part, police think they had done their job well and blame corrupt judicial officers for wrecking their cases.

The killing of Mombasa Port CID chief Hassan Ahmed Abdillahi was just the latest in a string of hit squad murders at the Coast.

At least five tycoons had been killed earlier by what police believe were hired killers.

All the unresolved murders have a common pattern – the victim was attacked by gunmen who shot either at the head or the chest, then they were left to die as their attackers fled without stealing anything.

Those killed in puzzling circumstances included a real estate tycoon, Mr Visram Mulji Patel (killed in December), another real estate expert Mr Sammy Kithikii (killed mid-May last year), 28-year old businessman Timothy Karanja Wainaina (killed last May 3), Mr Pankaj Shah (killed on February 5, ) and 33-year-old businessman Abdurahman Sheikh Mohammed Noor (killed on March 12, 2005).

The rate of killings is stretching police resources to breaking point.

A new murder is being committed almost every day in a different part of the country before the police can solve the one they were investigating.

Even though Mr Kamau sent two high-powered teams from Nairobi to the Coast to help investigate Mr Abdillahi's killers, the hitmen are still at large.

The team from Nairobi was made up of officers from the Special Crimes Prevention Unit and the Homicide Unit attached to CID headquarters. They have teamed up with their Mombasa counterparts.

Mr Kamau was quoted saying he suspected the Mombasa Port CID chief was killed because of investigations at the port into a containers theft racket and drugs smuggling.

At the time he was killed on December 31, he had intensified a crackdown on the theft of containers at the port in which many people – including police officers, clearing and forwarding agents and Kenya Ports Authority workers – were arrested and charged.

Although his killers used the car the port CID chief was driving to escape from the scene, they did not take his loaded gun and cash

At least nine suspects, including four brothers of Juja MP William Kabogo, are being held by police investigating the murder.

Detectives say people hire hitmen for various reasons. Police spokesman Jasper Ombati said the motive for executions was usually revenge, infidelity, business rivalry or other family disputes.

Investigating hit squad murders was complicated by the fact that killers and their financiers often left no clues.

People more likely to hire hitmen were business rivals, siblings fighting for family properly, jilted lovers or spouses who want to get rid of their partners because of infidelity or property disputes, political rivals and those who have been swindled and want revenge.

Detectives who spoke to the Nation said hit squad murders were usually arranged by somebody close to the victim.

In most cases, the motive was purely to kill and nothing was stolen.

But the cases became complicated when the killers stage-managed the attack to make it look like a robbery.

Other executions were plotted by close family members.

Killings which have remained unsolved for years include the murder of one of Kenya's leading criminal lawyers, Mr S.K. Ndungi, and a top military intelligence officer, Lt Col Augustine Kunyiha.

Human rights organisations say Mr Ndungi was shot dead by the police on April 22, 1997, on Moi Avenue, Nairobi, because of his work on the case of an armed robbery at Standard Chartered Bank.

He was representing some of the suspects in court and he accused Flying Squad detectives of having kept for themselves part of the money they recovered from the gang.

Lt Col Kunyiha was shot dead in broad daylight in the heart of the capital – on Kimathi Street opposite Nation Centre – on December 30, 1994.

The gunman were said to be been trailing the soldier's car and they demanded a parcel which was in his vehicle before they shot him.

The killers of both Mr Ndungi and Lt Col Kunyiha are still at large.

The killing of CID Superintendent Bernard Kahumbi, which had political undertones, also remains unresolved 11 years since he was executed by what was believed to be a police hit squad.

He was shot dead in May 1995 after he led a highly publicised but unsuccessful police search for Mr Njehu Gatabaki, the editor of Finance magazine and a former MP for Githunguri.

The day Mr Gatabaki surrendered to police Mr Kahumbi was found dead with a gun shot wound near a Nairobi slum.

The then Opposition MPs – who are now serving in the Kibaki administration – claimed the detective was killed by the state because he had failed to arrest Mr Gatabaki.

Government officials denied the charge, linking the murder to the Opposition. Two men were arrested and charged with Mr Kahumbi's murder but nothing was published about their trials.

Another unresolved murder which had political links was that of former Githurai ward councillor Charles Maina Wanjuguna.

A gang burst into his home on the night of June 10-11, 2000 and hammered a nail into his head before they slit his throat, in full view of his wife and children.

Mr Wanjuguna was killed at the height of a campaign for the Ruiru mayoral seat. He had expressed fears for his life.

During the trial of no fewer than 13 people who were arrested over the murder, witnesses told the court how a hit squad was hired by Mr Wanjuguna's political rivals because he was the frontrunner in the campaign.

Murky underworld of hired killers

Murky underworld of professional killers for hire Story by FRED MUKINDA and MBURU MWANGI Publication Date: 1/14/2006

Police believe it's easy for anyone with a motive to have another killed. Most people know the criminals among them; and the criminals are often the first contacts for neighbours desperate to settle scores. "They are the links between ordinary citizens and the complicated underworld of professional killers," CID public relations officer Gideon Kibunjah told the Nation on telephone yesterday. Usually for a small fee, they introduce a person to a hit man, who in turn depends on the village criminal to determine if the "customer" can be trusted. Informers often pose as clients to help police reach deeper into the world of crime. They are spared prosecution or have their punishment lessened on condition that they remain informers and keep away from crime. They are a big worry for hit men, who now avoid contact with any potential client unless recommended by intermediaries. But once the link is established, they demand a down payment. Usually they prove themselves capable of carrying out the task by showing the "customer" a gun. They then ask for details of the target, including economic status, prominence and vulnerability. These help criminals to understand the risk, and to fix their charges. At this stage, the hit man can still reject or take up the assignment. Finally, both parties agree on how the execution is to be carried out so that it masks the motive. Crime experts agree that some criminals make a living by executing others. Most work for anybody, so long as the money is good, and chances of being caught slim. Those hiring hit men are always cautious not to be double-crossed. They demand proof of the killing before making full payment. After getting a down-payment and details of the target and where they are commonly found, the hit men then work on the plan of trailing and trapping the target. Detectives are generally agreed that a murder without a motive is the most difficult to crack. They are convinced that putting a finger on the motive – the reason or excuse that leads one to do evil – is the key to resolving the puzzle. Knowing the motive opens the doors wide, not only to the killers' hideouts, but also to their prison cells, because a conviction is almost assured. But professional killers are known to cover their tracks and those of their paymasters by masking their link through creating many motives, including robbery, carjackings or business rivalry. A former police investigator told of a case which everybody believed was suicide until a postmortem examination revealed otherwise. The man had been strangled. He said he also handled cases that at a glance are believed to be road accidents until further investigations reveal something different. Pursuing the wrong motive is frustrating for detectives. If the wrong suspects are pursued, the detectives waste time gathering evidence, assembling witnesses and seeking conviction. By the time they realise they are on the wrong track, most evidence will have been wiped out. In the case of Nairobi University lecturer and delegate to the Constitutional Conference at Bomas, Dr Crispin Mbai, the pressure mounting on the detectives was to investigate the political motive. However, a detective based at the Kilimani police station said that motive led nowhere. Later, they concentrated on robbery as the main motive. "Although there was no conviction, the case flopped on a technicality, and I'm convinced the former lecturer was killed in a bungled robbery," he said. Controversy still surrounds the August 2000 death of Catholic priest John Anthony Kaiser. The widely-held belief was that Fr Kaiser's was an assassination due to his political bent. On investigations, the police – assisted by America's Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) – deduced the priest had committed suicide. The political motive was far more appealing to the public who could not believe it could have been suicide. An inquest is still in progress. Another police investigator based in Eldoret said an obvious hint that hit men are involved is when nothing is stolen from the victim, or when they undergo prolonged questioning or torture. In other cases, the hint comes through an ominous phone call, letter or emissary. "If a gun is used, most victims are shot at point-blank range. This and the evidence of non-resistance lead police to classify such a killing as an execution," he added. Again, the brute force used, like pumping many bullets into victims or slashing them many times may point to an execution. "It is like they want to tell the world: 'We were not only out to kill this man, we were out to teach him a good lesson and let the world know it all'," said a top detective. These are the kind of hit men who, whether they use a gun or other weapons, show their fury by performing gory, bizarre and spine-chilling things on the body like dismembering it, gouging out the eyes, slicing out the ears or beheading. Others extract toes and fingernails or drive in nails into the head of their victim to inflict maximum pain before death. Police say confessions by some hit men reveal either elaborate plans and bungled ones. Their pay depends on their professionalism and the targets involved. "We have heard of cases where some hit men get only Sh10,000 while others are paid millions to accomplish a mission," said the policeman. The daring ones are those seemingly shielded from the law. These, however, are not just mere hit men, but accomplished assassins. In this league are the killers of politicians Tom Mboya in 1969, J.M. Kariuki in 1975 and Robert Ouko in 1990. In these cases, top officials in government and the police are, more often than not, involved. Some hit men do not seem to worry about the setting, especially if the message is meant to echo loud to the victim's friends and neighbours. In fact, most seem to relish the publicity they get, and will smoke out their victim even from the most public place. A case in point is that of top military intelligence officer, Lt Col Augustine Kunyiha, who was shot dead by four hit men opposite Nation Centre on December 30, 1994, as he waited for a friend at about 6pm. They engaged him in an argument before grabbing his gun and shooting him four times in the head and chest. As they shot him, they shouted at him: "Toa hiyo kitu (bring that thing)". They are said to have retrieved a package from his car and fled in theirs as the crowd watched. The case never went anywhere. A few metres from the spot, Nairobi councillor S.M. Maina was shot by a gang that was out to get his life. He died a year later in London where he was taken for specialised treatment. The motive was widely linked to his anti-corruption crusade at City Hall, but no suspect was ever arrested. Still in the city centre, a lawyer representing suspects in a Sh96 million heist from the Standard Charted Bank, Moi Avenue, Mr Samuel Ndungi, was shot dead as he came out of a cafe on Moi Avenue opposite Jeevanjee Gardens on April 22, 1997. He had claimed he had been summoned by a top police officer who, he said, told him in no uncertain terms that he was not amused by his role. Other cases of gangland style executions include that of a Ngong lawyer and human rights activist Elijah Marima Sempeta, who was sprayed with bullets as he parked his vehicle in his compound in March, last year. The motive was suspected to be his role in some controversial ranches. More recently, senior roads engineer Francis Moindi Nyaega was killed in the same area. Former Kilome MP Tony Ndilinge too, is believed to have been executed, although no suspect has ever been convicted. Mr Ndilinge was found murdered in Githurai, Nairobi, in August 2001. In February last year, a suspected hit squad shot Mr Pankaj Shah dead in Mombasa as he drove into town centre for dinner with his wife.

Being pushy works

After corresponding with my Senators, providing them with the written documentation they required, I had to bug them again regarding requesting the FBI to testify in the Kenyan inquest.

Apparently, if you bug people enough, they start to listen. John knew that and paid the ultimate price for it. While I don't have the same threat, the powers that be are starting to listen to my squeaky wheel.

And that's what it takes: making noise. Writing congresspeople, calling them, emailing them. They don't listen at first (usually) but if you make enough noise, they will. They are our public servants, put into their positions by us. They have to answer to us.

So make them earn their money by responding to your requests to act on the behalf of a man who always put others first. Start calling. Start writing. Start emailing. And don't stop until you get the response you deserve.

I know I won't.