Kenyan prosecutors seek security after death of Ugandan counterpart

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Kenyan chief prosecutor on Wednesday expressed concerns over security of prosecutors following the murder of Ugandan acting Director of Public Prosecutions Joan Kagezi in Kampala on Monday.
“The demise of Kagezi, the lead prosecutor in the Al-Shabaab terrorist case in Uganda underscores the need for governments to urgently look into the security of prosecutors, investigators and judicial officers handling emerging and transnational organised crimes,” Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko said in a statement issued in Nairobi.
“This incident has the potential of emboldening other organised criminal gangs on slowing down prosecutions, which could paralyse the criminal justice system,” Tobiko added.
Kagezi was shot dead by gunmen on a motorcycle in the outskirts of Kampala on Monday. Kagezi was the lead prosecutor in the case of 13 terror suspects now before the High Court in Kampala.
Tobiko said Kagezi had worked with the Kenyan and Tanzanian law enforcement agencies at the initial stages of the investigations into the Kampala bombings of 2010 by Al-Shabaab terrorists.
Tobiko, who described the loss of Kagezi as tragic and a big blow to efforts made in fighting terrorism, said it should be a wakeup call to governments especially those in East Africa to pay attention to the kind of security measures employed on officers involved in sensitive crimes. “To avert this, it is time decisive action was taken to ensure adequate protection is accorded to prosecutors, investigators and judicial officers,”he said.
The Kenya-based International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) has also condemned Kazegi’s murder.
“ICTJ pays tribute to Kagezi for her commitment to secure justice for victims of serious crimes,” said David Tolbert, President of ICTJ. “We condemn this horrendous crime and call on the government to review the protection afforded to justice officials handling such sensitive cases.” Enditem

Source: Xinhua

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