The Boniface Kariuki murder case against Constable Klinzy Barasa took an unexpected turn after his lawyer’s broken English drew attention online. Many Kenyans joked that the lawyer might need a lawyer himself.
Outside the courtroom, the Klinzy Barasa lawyer told reporters that DPP Benson Ingonga had “choosed” to charge Barasa with murder for shooting Kariuki in the head at close range. He repeated the word multiple times, making it the highlight of his speech.
The focus quickly shifted from the case to the lawyer’s grammar, with netizens questioning his qualifications.
“Position of DPP on how they choosed my client. Well, they have choosed, they have choosed a murder charge,” the lawyer stated, prompting instant online reactions.
The errors did not stop there. In trying to explain the murder charge and the court process, he kept repeating,
“We will be appearing before the High Court. It’ i the High Court that has the jurisdiction to entertain matters to do with the jurisdiction of murder. So we will be going for the judge.”
Many people were surprised that a lawyer in a serious murder case could struggle with simple English. Some asked if he was really qualified, while others joked that Barasa should fear his lawyer more than the charges.
One person even commented, “Petition to make Barasa’s lawyer the lawyer for all killer cops.”
Klinzy Barasa Tough Luck with Lawyers
Klinzy Barasa has not had much luck with his lawyers.
His first lawyer, Felix Kiprono Keaton, best known for asking Malia Obama to marry him, quit the case. He stepped down after making confusing statements.
Keaton first said Barasa did not shoot anyone and was wrongly identified.
And then later claimed Klinzy Barasa fired a rubber bullet instead of a real one.
Thereafter Kiprono said he left the case because of safety concerns and public backlash. He received over 1,000 “greetings” from angry Kenyans upset that he was defending a murder suspect.
It will be interesting to see how Klinzy Barasa’s murder trial pans out, considering Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen’s shoot to kill orders against protesters. And amid President Ruto urging the police to shoot protesters in the leg.
But the sad reality is that Klinzy Barasa appeared in Court alone, crying, and looking scared.
By Vivian K.