The family of Fredrick Leliman, a former police officer who has started serving his death sentence after being found guilty of murdering lawyer Willie Kimani, his client Josphat Mwenda and their taxi driver Joseph Muiruri in 2016, has now apologized to the victims’ families.
The family says they’re sorry over the painful loss and untold sufferings caused by their beloved son.
Citizen TV caught up with Leliman’s distraught parents and close relatives in Marigat, Baringo County, as they try coming to terms with the fate that befell someone they describe as humble, discipline and a leader.
The ex-cop’s 70-year-old father Stephen Leliman is now left with fond memories of his son, whom he says never at any time during parenting had a disciplinary issue.
“Hakuwahi fanya kitu mbaya…hakuna mtu amewai kuja kuniambia kijana wangu amemkoses…hata nikiskia hii maneno nilikuwa nashtuka sana kwa maana singetarajia kama anaweza fanya kitu kama hiyo,” he says.
“Mimi nasema aisulu kwa maana mimi sina nguvu, wacha niwachie Mungu, yeye pekee yake ndio anajua. Mimi naomba msamaha kwa Wakenya, nisaidie kwa huyu kijana aappeal hiyo kesi yake.”
Leliman’s father describes his first-born son as the sole bread winner among his 12 children, who built him this house shortly after he joined the National Police Service (NPS).
He now says he is left to raise his son’s three children.
“Mimi ninategemea yeye wakati wote…sasa nikutafuta hapa na pale…,” he states.
Eunice Leliman, Fredrick Leliman’s mother, describes her son as an honest child, calling upon the State to review its death verdict against him.
“Mtoto wangu alikuwa mkarimu, naomba mahakama imwachilie,” she says.
Wilson Leliman, his elder uncle, says he partly raised the ex-police officer and that he was a very disciplined and straight forward person.
Relatives, neighbours and friends continue to visit Leliman’s family in Baringo County as they come to terms with the events that befell not only a family unit but the clan and community.