A human rights lawyer has been found dead in Kenya along with his client and a taxi driver following their abduction in the capital city of Nairobi.
Willie Kimani was a lawyer working for human rights and law enforcement organisation International Justice Mission (IJM), which today announced the deaths.
"It is with deep mourning that we are announcing the deaths of IJM staff member, Willie Kimani, IJM client, Josephat Mwenda and taxi driver, Joseph Muiruri," a statement on IJM's website said.
Their bodies were found northeast of Nairobi on July 1 after an extensive search led by Kenyan police and IJM staff.
CEO of IJM, Gary Haugen, said in a statement: "We strongly condemn the perpetrators of these murders and the horrific violence inflicted upon these men. IJM exists to protect the poor from violence, and Willie's life was taken while courageously pursuing that mission.
"As we work to provide comfort and support for the families of Willie, Josephat, and Joseph, we are grateful to the US Embassy, the local Kenyan police, and our partners globally and on the ground who responded swiftly and professionally to our requests for help."
Christian Today was told yesterday by IJM senior staff that the three men had gone missing following a court hearing in Nairobi on June 23.
Kimani had been defending 24-year-old Mwende against "false claims" involving a police officer.
Eric Ha, general counsel at IJM, said that Mwenda had filed a complaint against a police officer who allegedly shot him during an "improper arrest" last year.
"The police charged our client with what we believe were false charges related to drug possession and possession of a weapon," Ha said, which lead to Mwenda's arrest. "It was in the context of that case that they were attending the hearing [on June 23]."
Ha added that the taxi the men had been travelling in was found abandoned on Saturday, but he had been hopeful yesterday that they would still be found alive.
"Kenya, like too many countries around the world, from time to time experiences corruption," added IJM's vice president of investigations and law enforcement development, Mark Clookie.
"We're there at the invitation of the Kenyan government to help pursue cases, and police corruption and abuse of power. That's why we're there."
Haugen added in his statement that IJM was "deeply grateful to our colleagues on the ground who bravely worked in dangerous conditions to try to locate these men, and we are as committed as ever to our IJM Kenya team and to their struggle for justice in their nation.
"We will seek justice for Willie, Josephat, and Joseph, and will not cease in pursuit of this case until that end is secured," he said.
