The murder of a citizen in Kwale four years ago has been accused once more against an Administration Police Constable.

PHOTO | COURTESY AP Police charged afresh following the murder case

The claimed incident allegedly occurred in 2018 at Mwenza Village, Likoni, Kwale County.

Yunus Athman Ali disputed the accusations of murder against him before Lady Justice Anne Ong'injo at the Mombasa High Court on Thursday.

Mohammed Karega Kassim, one of Ali's co-accused, has reportedly become a prosecution witness and would testify in the case, according to the Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), according to ODPP, filed an affidavit opposing the suspect's release because he may also be involved in another homicide.

"IPOA submitted an affidavit challenging Ali's release on bond since they are looking into another murder accusation against him,"

Albert Wekesa, a boda boda rider, was allegedly murdered by him in May 2022.

According to the ODPP, the suspect will stay in custody in the Shimo la Tewa Maximum Prison while he awaits the case's outcome, which will come out next month.

The number of police killings of civilians has increased recently throughout the nation.

Former police officer Frederick Leliman was given the death penalty a week ago for the murder of Willie Kimani, his client, and a driver.

He received sentences of 20 to 30 years in prison with three other ex-police officers and an informant.

In sentencing them on February 3, Justice Jessie Lesiit stated, "The first accused is into death in each of the three counts, and the second accused is sentenced to 30 years in prison in each of the three counts, with the jail sentences running consecutively.

They include Stephen Cheburet, who will spend 30 years in prison, Sylvia Wanjiku, who will spend 24 years in prison; and informant Peter Ngugi, who will serve 20 years.

Justice Jessie Lesiit condemned them all and determined that the prosecution had established beyond a reasonable doubt that the four officers were responsible for the abduction and cold-blooded murder of the lawyer, his client, and a driver.

Leonard Mwangi, a fourth former police officer, was acquitted after becoming a witness.