[kictanet] Kenyan Tech Engineer, Zak Muriuki, Died in Ethiopian Jail

Mon Dec 19 13:33:30 EAT 2016

What I can say for sure is that the government could have, and more
importantly now, could do much to end the suffering of these families.

The least they can do is to compel the Ethiopian authorities to formally
charge all the suspects (others such as Maxwell Ochieng and Oscar Otindo
have been there for much longer than Jedrick Mugo and the Late Zak Muriuki.
It was Zak who found a way to communicate to their families of their
whereabouts and shared the funds and food channeled to him by the company
and family, plus many others from other African countries. He also took on
the role of their 'protector' while in prison).

It is a great injustice to be continuously kept in remand on some of the
flimsiest reasons ever given in a court of law. Zak's last straw was when
the Judges indicated that the ruling was ready but it was in a handwritten
format and needed to be typed. This was on Oct 27th and the new ruling date
was set to January. He came from very high spirits and quickly went into
depression. This has always been the narrative with the court. I was there
during the August hearing and they said that they needed to go on leave
thus pushing it to the Oct date.

All this time wives and children and families were without their loved ones
- and with no officially permitted visits.

Finally, Zak was my colleague of many years. As for the company I will ask
you to listen very carefully on what these families themselves are saying.
What I know is that these two companies have spent MILLIONS of shillings
going back and forth to Addis and everywhere else they can to find a
solution, legal fees, school and family upkeep fees aside to the salaries
being paid as usual. There has been a team of lawyers both in Ethiopia and
Kenya.

Tomorrow the 19th is Zak's memorial service at the Lutheran Church on
Nyerere Rd, starting at 10 AM (see attached map for directions). Afterwards
we have also planned a peaceful march to light candles at the Ethiopian
embassy - as many as the days that they held him without any charge. (PS:
The police have been duly notified).

Anyone that has a means to facilitate that the rest in prison are given a
fair trial, please side bar.

RIP brother Zak.

Kevin

On 18 December 2016 at 08:09, Ali Hussein via kictanet <
kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

> Tony
>
> Very good point. Infact I wonder how in the first place did this company
> or companies accept to do work in a country like Ethiopia without ensuring
> they have ALL the relevant licenses and government approvals. We all know
> Ethiopia is one of the most oppressive countries in the world right now.
> Chasing dollars without enduring you are on the right side of the law is
> simply criminal. They ought to be charged for reckless endangerment of
> their employees' lives.
>
>
> *Ali Hussein*
> *Principal*
> *Hussein & Associates*
> +254 0713 601113
>
> Twitter: @AliHKassim
>
> Skype: abu-jomo
>
> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
>
>
> "Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen and thinking
> what no one else has thought".  ~ Albert Szent-Györgyi
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> On 18 Dec 2016, at 7:27 AM, Tony White via kictanet <
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>
> What I find most disgusting in this case is that they appear to have
> been totally abandoned by their employer! It is easy to blame
> 'serikali', but the employer should have been on the ground with
> competent lawyers etc. to resolve this - *not* "we couldn't find the
> ambassador" for 2 years!!
>
> RIP Zak.
>
>
> On 17/12/2016, Barrack Otieno via kictanet
> <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>
> Hi Ali,
>
>
> I read the same and i must say it is terrible, the worst bit is that
>
> the Kenyan Ambassador could not be reached to help resolve the problem
>
> if this is true somebody needs to go home, we cannot have public
>
> servants who cannot help the Kenyan public , it is the epitome of
>
> arrogance if there is truth in it. It is bad in this day and age for
>
> public servants to ignore requests from the public, anyone who know
>
> this issue well should enlighten us but as an ICT community we must
>
> say no to the way this issue appears to be handled in a pedestrian
>
> manner with the same breath that we opposed the ICT bill.
>
>
> We need to join hands and petition the government on this matter.
>
> Justice be our shield and defender May we dwell in unity, Peace and
>
> liberty, Plenty be found within our borders
>
>
> Regards
>
>
> On 12/17/16, Ali Hussein via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> wrote:
>
> Listers
>
>
> Saddest news. It also appears that there are three more Kenyan ICT
>
> Practitioners who are still languishing in prison in Ethiopia. The main
>
> charge is that they are accused of installing communication equipment
>
> without a license. Mugo, was arrested with Zak (may the almighty rest his
>
> soul in peace) over a year ago and Osborne Otinda with his colleague
>
> Maxwell
>
> Odhiambo (according to today's Nation, Page 3) were arrested in October
>
> 2014
>
> and are still in jail.
>
>
> Excerpts:-
>
>
> (Addis Standard) – The body of a Kenyan engineer who died while in an
>
> Ethiopian prison has arrived home on Thursday Dec. 11th.
>
>
> Zak Muriuki, a father of two girls (pictured) and a tech engineer by
>
> profession, arrived in Ethiopia nearly two years ago on January 9, 2015,
>
> according to information obtained by Addis Standard. He was arrested on
>
> January 10 along with another Kenyan, Jadrick Mugo, who is still in
>
> prison.
>
>
> Read on:-
>
>
> http://www.ayyaantuu.net/kenyan-tech-engineer-zak-muriuki/
>
>
> It also appears that the government is doing what it can to get the
>
> Kenyans
>
> released.
>
>
> Ali Hussein
>
> Principal
>
> Hussein & Associates
>
> +254 0713 601113
>
>
> Twitter: @AliHKassim
>
> Skype: abu-jomo
>
> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
>
>
>
> "Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen and thinking
>
> what
>
> no one else has thought".  ~ Albert Szent-Györgyi
>
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
>
>
> --
>
> Barrack O. Otieno
>
> +254721325277
>
> +254733206359
>
> Skype: barrack.otieno
>
> PGP ID: 0x2611D86A
>
>
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> --
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>
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> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
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> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>
> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
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