Questions over death of Makindu madrassa student as police probe assault claims

Police in Makindu, Makueni County, are investigating the suspected murder of Ahmed Amir Rosa, who died following an alleged assault inside a religious institution.

Four days after his death, no arrests have been made, even as a witness claims five men, including a teacher, beat Amir and allegedly denied him medical attention.

The institution, identified as the Naqshbandi Zawiya Madrassa, is now at the centre of the investigation.

Questions now loom over what happened inside the madrassa, where Amir's belongings are, and why no one has been arrested.

A post-mortem examination reportedly found injuries consistent with blunt-force trauma.

Citizen TV spoke to a man who says he was inside the madrassa just hours before Amir died. His account could shed new light on what happened in those final hours.

“Alipigwa Jumapili na hakupelekwa hospitali. Alijeruhiwa na ile kitu. Najua alikufa Ijumaa asubuhi ama Alhamisi usiku,” said the witness, whose identity is concealed.

The witness alleges Amir was assaulted by five young men, following an incident involving one of the madrassa's teachers.

“Alikatazwa kupelekwa hospitali lakini alikuwa amepigwa na vijana watano...... Alikuwa ametuma huyu anaitwa Ustadh Yusuf kwenda kumhoji lakini Ustadh Yusuf alimtoa kwa kitanda akamuangusha na akaanza kumpiga. Wakati alimaliza kumpiga, ndio akaambia vijana, ‘endelea kumpiga,” added the witness.

Residents say Amir's death may not be an isolated incident. They allege there have been previous cases of abuse claims that authorities and religious leaders failed to act on.

“Huyo si mtoto wa kwanza kuuawa hapo. Kuna mtoto aliuliwa ni kurushiwa maji ya moto, na akawabeba yeye mwenyewe binafsi, Bwana Shekhe, na akawaacha pale na hakuwashughulikia. Na viongozi wa dini na viongozi wa serikali hakuna hata mmoja alichukua hatua,” said a resident Tabu Ibrahim.

But as these explosive allegations mount, Jamia Mosque Makindu is drawing a line between itself and the Naqshbandi institution, insisting it has no connection to the mosque.

“Ifahamike kwamba sio Jamia Mosque. Kule kuna Zawiya Naqshbandi Makindu, ambao wako ndani yetu. Sheikh wetu anaitwa Feiruz Ali Shemon,” another Juma Tuga stated.

There are also unanswered questions over what happened to Amir's belongings after his death.

“Wakasema hii ni police case, na polisi mmoja akasema inaonekana huyu alipigwa hapa ndani. Wakaulizwa nguo zake, wakasema hawana nguo. Mattress imechomwa, ile alikuwa analalia. Anaulizwa kwa nini mattress ilichomwa. Mattress imechomwa, nguo zake hazionekani, simu hakuna,” the deceased’s mother, Leila Muhamed Amir, lamented.

An Imam at Makindu Jamia Mosque Juma Tuga added, “Na tulilia Madam DC na anajua issue ya kwa Bwana Sheikh, na mpaka wa leo hatujapata majibu. Na tulikuwa tumeamua sisi kama Waislamu wa Makindu tutaandamana, na tukingojea atapatikana mengine makubwa zaidi ya haya. Kwa hivyo sisi hatuna amani na kundi la Naqshbandi, si msikitini wala si kanisani.”

But even as police say they are investigating the matter, questions abound: who assaulted Amir? Why was he allegedly denied medical attention? Where are his belongings, and what happened inside the madrassa before his death?