The landmark conviction of an extrajudicial killing case marks a pivotal moment in Northern Kenya’s history. For years, security agencies engaged in ruthless killings and disappearances, particularly in Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, Marsabit, and Isiolo. The perpetrators, often shielded by the government, left many families suffering in silence without closure for their loved ones.
Despite the constitutional guarantee of the right to life (Article 26(1&3)), the state failed to take appropriate measures, allowing extrajudicial killings to persist. However, on November 10, 2018, in Rhamu, Mandera North Sub-County, two police officers, Kennedy
Okuli and Denis Langat, raided Mama Abdia Omar Aden’s home, alleging her son’s involvement in drug trafficking. Eyewitnesses reported that the officers fatally shot Mama Abdia three times in the chest.
In response, the Northern Advocacy Organisation wrote to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) on November 12, 2018. After dispatching investigative officers, IPOA concluded its investigation in March 2019, handing the case to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP). The two suspects were interdicted, arrested, and charged with the murder of Mama Abdia. The trial, which commenced in May 2019 at the Garissa High Court, involved eighteen witnesses.
Following a lengthy legal process, the two suspects were convicted of manslaughter in May 2021. They were subsequently sentenced to ten years each and are currently serving their terms at Kamiti Maximum Prison. This conviction represents the first successful extrajudicial killings case in Northern Kenya, setting a precedent for accountability and justice in the region.
