Said Athumani Kamau, brother of slain Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light member Ibrahim Ramadhan, was due in court in November. The hearing was postponed to February.
by A. Sahara Alexander
Readers of “Bitter Winter” will remember the tragic case of Ibrahim Ramadhan, a 17-year-old boy shot dead by a policeman while exiting a mosque in a Nairobi shantytown, Kenya. His only “crime” was having converted to the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL) and speaking about it to friends. It was clearly a cold-blooded assassination motivated by religious bigotry and hatred, despite an absurd attempt to disguise it as a mere street crime.
The police never seriously investigated the killing. Even more absurdly, Ibrahim’s elder brother, Said Athumani Kamau—also a member of AROPL—was questioned by the authorities. In Kenya, belonging to a religion that is not officially registered constitutes an illicit act and is treated as a criminal offense.
When “Bitter Winter” interviewed Said on October 20, 2025, he was preparing to appear in court after being officially summoned. “I, as an AROPL member,” he told “Bitter Winter,” “became the criminal who had to prove my innocence, while my brother—a fellow AROPL member—was shot dead for his faith by a policeman who has never been investigated.”
That hearing was later postponed. “Bitter Winter” has remained in constant contact with Said, who decided to leave Kenya for security reasons, returning only to appear before the court on the scheduled date. He was initially summoned for November 11, 2025, but the tribunal session was delayed. The new date is now February 19, 2026. Said was informed that the police had failed to produce their investigation diary, as requested by the court. One cannot help but imagine what would have happened if, instead of the police, it had been Said who failed to provide the required documents on time.
“Bitter Winter” will continue to follow this troubling case and keep its readers informed, reminding them that delayed justice is always justice denied.
Uses a pseudonym for security reasons.
