Kenya opposition seeks probe into government critic’s murder

SHOCKING Images Of Jacob Juma’s Bullet Riddled Mercedes Benz Emerge – https://t.co/HlT0xzdPpo via @MpashoNews pic.twitter.com/Y1e8EWLIUA

— The Star, Kenya (@TheStarKenya) May 6, 2016

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP |

Kenya’s opposition on Friday called for an government statement and inquiry into the murder of a well-known businessman and government critic.

Jacob Juma was found shot to death in his bullet-riddled Mercedes-Benz on Thursday night on the outskirts of the capital Nairobi.

“We demand a statement from government (about the) circumstances that led to his assassination. We want to be told who assassinated him and why,” said Moses Wetangula, a former foreign minister and senior member of the opposition coalition.

Juma was known as a colourful and sometimes controversial businessmen with a variety of investments.

In recent months he had become an outspoken government critic on Twitter and Facebook, especially regarding corruption and the alleged theft of funds from a $2.75 billion (2.6 billion euro) eurobond issue.

He had even written posts accusing and naming senior government officials who he claimed were plotting to have him killed.

Police said investigations are underway to find the killers who are believed to have escaped on a motorbike.

But Wetangula said a broader inquiry was needed.

“Can an inquiry be opened to filter information from far and wide to tell Kenyans why this great Kenyan and businessman from our region has been brutally and untimely terminated in his life and his activities?” Wetangula asked.

By late Friday there was no response from the government.