Kenya, 22 May 2026 - The family of Aden Hassan Mohamed has vowed to challenge the manslaughter charge preferred against a police officer, insisting the circumstances surrounding his killing warrant a murder charge.
Speaking after Charles Ngulungu Kauwi taking plea of not guilty, the family said they have already written to the Director of Public Prosecutions to review the charges to murder.
Addressing journalists at Milimani law courts, the family lawyer, Mahat Somane, said they are disappointed with the DPP for preferring manslaughter charges against the suspect, noting that they hope he will work towards finding justice for both parties.
“We hope he will look at the file again with the hope that he will prefer against murder charge, because we believe this was blatant murder,” said the lawyer flanked by family members of the decease and Garissa political leaders.
“We assure that family that we will get to the bottom of this and we will get substantive justice,” he added.
The family lawyer also said as much as there is personal responsibility they will also be seeking compensation for the family from the suspect as well as National Police service.
He advised the police to work their work within the law and responsibly and not to kill innocent Kenyans during their work.
The said this is not first incidents involving police officers acknowledging that there are good police officer and there is need to hold rogue police officers to account.
Aden Mohamed was shot dead on April 21 at Modika when he had gone to help his friend who was being detained by police officers, his killings sparked outrage and protest.
In court, constable Kauwi pleaded not guilty and will be remanded at industrial area prison the deceased family opposing bail.
Lawyer Mahat Somane told the court that his clients travelled 400km to seek justice noting that it is his clients' position that the suspect should not be admitted to bail.
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The court was told that the accused was on the run and this would be ground to be denied him bail with the offence he facing being serious matter.
Family members accompanied by political leaders were in court to follow up the matter, ODM youth representative Umulkheir Harun, Garissa county gubernatorial aspirant Mohamed Shidiye and several ward representatives were in court.
Shidiye regretted that incident of police brutality and extra judiciary killings have become rampant in Garissa with rogue police officers killing and maiming civilians.
“Before this incidents there was another boy who was killed, this one had just married and was trying to eke a living, this must stop,” said Shidiye.
The former Kenyan ambassador to Botswana has described as travesty of justice, the prosecution's decision to charge the suspect with manslaughter adding that this is gross violations of the Constitution.
He said they will be asking parliament to impeachment him saying this is not acceptable in this day and time noting that manslaughter means the killing was not intentional.
The former Lagdera MP said they will be looking forward to the courts ruling on his bail saying they hope the courts will not give him bail.
“I am disappointed by the direction the DPP has taken to me I feels like he is watering down the murder to manslaughter, I will take personal initiative to take motion of impeachment to parliament,” said Umulkheir Harun, the Nominated MP.
The court is expected to determine his bail application on Friday next week 29 May 2026.

