Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura has dismissed reports linking foreigners to killings in the country, describing the recent talks about Nigerians as false and misleading.
Mwaura was speaking during a press briefing on February 1, 2024, providing the National Government update at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).
He addressed several key issues affecting the country including the recent killings recorded in the country for the past one month.
Particularly, addressing femicide cases, Dr Mwaura said that the blame should not be pointed out to foreigners of Nigerian decency.
He further went on to describe the reports as “Story za jaba”, a common metaphorical phrase which translates to false and fictional stories.
” Izo story wanasema kuhusu Wanigeria… Hizo hizo ni story za jaba” he said. This loosely translates to “Those stories about Nigerians those are false stories.”
Mwaura gave an example of a recorded femicide case in which no foreigner was involved.
Mwaura on the reports
“Ule kijana mwenye alipatikana kwa mauaji ya Starlet Wahu. Was he Nigerian? Tuwache propaganda ” The govt spokesperson said.
Dr Mwaura was referring to John Matara, a suspect in police custody who was arrested in connection to the gruesome murder of socialite Starlet Wahu in a short-term accommodation house in South B.
However, the government spokesperson stated that the government had noted the recent worrying femicide cases.
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Nigerians in Kenya
At the same time, two Nigerians are currently in police custody after being arrested following the tragic murder of a university student Rita Waeni.
Waeni’s body was recovered at an Airbnb in Kasarani area with the head missing.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) arrested two Nigerians in connection to the murder.
Police reports revealed that one of the Nigerian named Opia had an expired passport.
Additionally, the other one named Asbor did not have any travel documents at the time of his arrest, telling the detectives that he lost his passport two years ago.
The suspects were traced by the DCI detectives to an apartment in Ndenderu in Kiambu County where they were arrested.
Police Constable Benjamin Wangila of Kasarani DCI offices told the Makadara court the suspects were living near the area where Waeni’s head was recovered.
Among the items that were recovered in their house include a hatchet, butcher’s knife, and a national identity.
The card belonging to a Kenyan (name withheld), six mobile phones, three laptops, 10 SIM cards from different telecom service providers and other items.
Man thrown from building
Also, four Nigerians were also arrested on January 31, 2024, following the death of a 23-year-old rapper who succumbed to injuries after allegedly being thrown from the seventh floor of a storey building.
The men are suspected to have thrown off the deceased from their room where he had gone moments before his death.
Charles Waga, described as an aspiring rapper by people close to him met his untimely death on the evening of Monday, January 29.
According to reports, he was working as a carpet cleaner as part of a side hustle.
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On the fateful day, he had gone to deliver a carpet to the house occupied by the four men which is located in the upper floors of the apartment.
Moments later, he fell off from the building under unclear circumstances leading to the severe injuries suffered on his head.
Nigeria responds
Responding to the reports, the Nigeria High Commission in Kenya on January 17, Wednesday said that they were concerned by online blogs, doctored videos and social media posts, maliciously entrenching spurious speculation that ‘Nigerians’ had perpetrated these heinous crimes.
The office raised concerns that Nigerian citizens were being targeted in the online attacks, urging its nationals residing in Kenya to remain calm and law-abiding as investigations into the cases continue.
“Nigerians in Kenya are advised to be vigilant and avoid unnecessary movements even as investigations are ongoing and formal communication from Kenyan law enforcement authorities are awaited,” the memo reads.
