The murder trial of former police officer Ahmed Rashid suffered another setback on Wednesday after two vital prosecution witnesses failed to present their evidence, forcing the High Court to postpone proceedings. The trial, presided over by Justice Diana Mochache, had been scheduled to hear testimony from a technical officer with the Communications Authority of Kenya.
The officer was expected to submit communication records that prosecutors say tie Rashid to the fatal shooting of two men in Eastleigh.
However, state counsel Angela Fuchacha informed the court that the witness could not be located despite being served with a summons. She stated, "Repeated attempts to reach the witness by phone and messages had failed, leaving the prosecution unable to proceed."
A second witness, a former chief armourer at Pangani Police Station, also failed to give evidence as planned. Although he appeared in court, prosecutors said he did not bring the firearms he allegedly issued to officers on the day of the killings.
They argued that continuing with his testimony without the weapons would weaken their case and requested an adjournment.
The defence opposed the request, with lawyer Danstan Omari accusing the prosecution of intentionally stalling the trial.
He noted that his client had consistently appeared in court while the state seemed unprepared. Omari also suggested that the drawn-out proceedings were influenced by pressure from civil society groups, including Amnesty International and International Justice Mission, who are listed as interested parties in the case.
After considering the submissions, Justice Mochache set June 24 and 25 as the new dates for the trial to continue.
Rashid, a former member of the elite Starehe Special Police Initiative and Vigilance Unit, commonly referred to as the “Pangani Six,” is accused of killing Jamal Mohammed and Mohammed Dahir Kheri on March 31, 2017, outside Amal Shopping Complex. He denies the charges.
