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.

<15492441_10154660072275953_8374642696516578503_n.jpg>

Kevin

On 18 December 2016 at 08:09, Ali Hussein via kictanet <kictanet@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@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@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@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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