By Davis Mwandawiro
The past two weeks has seen chain of twisted events over the controversial fatal accident involving popular televangelist Pastor James Ng’ang’a that robbed Mercy Njeri her life on July 26th at Limuru along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway. Social media has been instrumental in highlighting the case and emphasizing on the possible miscarriage of justice.
It has been alleged that the police had tried to cover up the involvement of Ng’ang’a by tampering with evidence and ignoring witness testimony as reported by the daily newspapers since it was claimed by eye witnesses at the scene of the accident. After the initial uproar, the Inspector General in a series of tweets gave the police account of events which was in complete contradiction with media and eyewitness recollection of events. He even got the number plate of the offending vehicle wrong. Furthermore, the hasty release of the vehicle from the police station was unusual.
In a dogged display of resilience social media users have kept the pressure on the Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet through a stream of tweets with the hashtags #PastorofImpunity and #ArrestPastorNganga which has resulted in Boinnet ordering an investigation into the police handling of the accident. While ordering new investigation into the matter, Boinnet noted that information submitted by members of the public via social media revealed a possible cover up by officers at Tigoni police station.
Indeed the vigilance by Kenyans could have yielded some fruits. Police now believe that Pastor James Ng’ang’a was behind the wheel of the vehicle that killed Mercy Njeri in Limuru on July 26, thanks to the probe. They have also dismissed Mr Simon Kuria, who presented himself as the driver of a Range Rover, registration number KCD 060Q, when it collided head-on with a Nissan car, registration number KBZ 709W, at Manguo in Limuru, Kiambu County.
The file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko for prosecution. It is hoped that justice will be served including having police officers who could have taken part in the cover up prosecuted.
Here are some of the tweets following the uproar.
Well, some things seem the same #PastorOfImpunity & attempted cover-up by your officers https://t.co/X3uzlGRc4C
— coldtusker (@coldtusker) August 5, 2015
Most of them demanded Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet to take action and arrest the pastor.
Under you IG @JBoinnet, it seems like the rule of law in Kenya applies differently to different groups of Kenyans #ArrestPastorNganga
— Mr. B (@Benogola) August 5, 2015
I never knew that I can cause a serious accident n ‘hire’ somebody to face the consequences #PastorOfImpunity via @njuguna254
— Ma3Route (@Ma3Route) August 5, 2015
Apparently Nganga was heard today telling some congregation that the devil has descended in full force to ‘tempt’ them. #ArrestPastorNganga
— The Mutai (@ItsMutai) August 5, 2015
Some argued the law was unequal.
This Kenyan thing of being guilty until proven RICH must stop #ArrestPastorNganga NOW.We need action @JBoinnet @bonifacemwangi @RobertAlai
— James Makau (@makaujemo) August 5, 2015
Not amused poor folks still thronging Ng’ang’a’s church to give him more blood money to bribe the govt whenever he kills #PastorOfImpunity
— The Mutai (@ItsMutai) August 5, 2015
You’d think Boinet would know better than get duped duped. Like he’d smell a rat faster than the rest of us. #pastorofimpunity
— Shiko-Msa (@Shiko_Msa) July 31, 2015
The late Mercy Njeri was laid to rest in her Murengeti Village and father hoped that justice will prevail and the family will finally have closure.  Social media in Kenya is become a watchdog that doesn’t sleep until justice is served.
