When former Pangani police officer Ahmed Rashid patroled Eastleigh areas. [File, Standard]
Why ex-police officer Ahmed Rashid's trial aborted
Crime and Justice
By
Kamau Muthoni
| Feb 26, 2026
The hearing of the murder case against former Pangani Police Station officer Ahmed Rashid was aborted after a witness from the Communication Authority of Kenya (CA) failed to show up.
At the same time, the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) also did not bring the firearms that were to be used by another witness, a police armourer.
The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Renson Ingonga Through Senior State Prosecutor Angela Fuchaka, told the court that the CA official had gone mute when he was notified that he was supposed to testify on Wednesday.
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“The Communication Authority of Kenya Official has refused to take our call or respond,” said Fuchaka.
At the same time, she said that their other witness, who was present in court, could not testify as the Pangani OCS had not brought the exhibits despite being notified on Tuesday.
“Arms which were to be exhibited have not been availed by the OCS Pangani. We were in communication with the OCS yesterday. Proceeding without the firearms, it will be prejudicial to the prosecution,” she added.
In reply, Rashid’s lawyer Danstan Omari argued that it was unfair for the prosecution not to avail the remaining witnesses and produce the exhibits.
He urged the court to either close the case or order the DPP to drop the charges. According to Omari, his client had diligently attended court from the start of the case.
“IPOA should have its own armoury. We were brief, but now being told that one from CAK has refused. The issue of someone either refusing to come or picking up calls, that is to be balanced in favour of the accused person. If the accused fails to appear, warrants are issued. We pleaded with you to ask CJ to sit over vacation. We moved with this matter and all available information to bring this case to a conclusion. As I indicated, they achieved what they wanted by charging him; they are not ready to prosecute this matter,” argued Omari.
He accused the civil society of driving the case.
In response, the victim's lawyer, Edward Mbanya, told the court that it would be unfair for the court to terminate the case as the victims were also seeking justice.
High Court Judge Diana Kavedza allowed the DPP’s application. She, however, noted that the Investigating Officer ought to have collected the exhibits from the OCS and looked for the witness from the authority.
She observed that only three witnesses remain for the DPP to close his case.
Rashid is accused of murdering two teenagers, Jamal Mohammed and Mohammed Dahir Kheri, in a controversial incident that occurred on March 31, 2017, opposite Amal Plaza in Eastleigh, Nairobi.
He denied the claims.
It will be heard in June this year.
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