John Paul Oulu

See also: Oscar Kamau Kingara

George Paul Oulu also known as Oulu GPO (died March 5, 2009) was a Kenyan human rights activist and a former Vice Chairman of the Students Organization of Nairobi University (SONU); the representative student body at the University of Nairobi.[1] His 2009 assassination is widely attributed[2][3] to his work in documenting police killings.[3][4]

Human rights work

Oulu was credited with an important role in investigative work behind police killings in Kenya,[5] including The Cry of Blood — Report on Extra-Judicial Killings and Disappearances,[4] which was widely publicised by WikiLeaks.[5]

Assassination

At approximately 6:00 pm Oulu was shot and killed while sitting in rush hour traffic in Nairobi on March 5, 2009, along with lawyer and founder of the Oscar Foundation, Oscar Kamau Kingara.[3] They were on their way to a meeting with Kamanda Mucheke, a senior human rights officer of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights when they were shot at point-blank range in their white Mercedes Benz E200 car (KAJ 179Z).[6][7]

Witness accounts from the nearby University of Nairobi stated that a Mitsubishi Pajero was seen blocking a Mercedes Benz, after which gunshots were fired at the Mercedes by individuals in similar clothing who emerged from a minivan positioned a few cars behind. The incident resulted in the fatal shooting of the two occupants.[8]

Earlier on in the same day, the government through its spokesperson, Alfred Mutua, had accused the Oscar Foundation of sponsoring Mungiki led protests.[9][10]

The assassination sparked protests by students from the nearby University of Nairobi that were marked with destruction and looting of property.[11] Godwin Ogato, a second year university student at University of Nairobi was shot dead in the fracas that ensued between students and police.[12]

Following the assassination, WikiLeaks called for witness reports and described Kingara and Oulu as "Wikileaks-related senior human rights activists".[2] As per the leaks, it was alleged that they were executed by government undercover security officers.[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Activist laid to rest". Daily Nation. 2009-03-14. Retrieved 2009-04-02.
  2. ^ a b "Wikileaks writers killed in Kenya". Hawai`i Free Press/WikiLeaks. 2009-03-09. Archived from the original on 2010-12-25. Retrieved 2010-12-29.
  3. ^ a b c McConnell, Tristan (2009-03-07). "Rights activist Oscar Kamau Kingara shot dead in central Nairobi". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 2011-06-29. Retrieved 2009-04-02.
  4. ^ a b "'The Cry of Blood' — Report on Extra-Judicial Killings and Disappearances" (PDF). Kenya National Commission on Human Rights/Enforced Disappearances Information Exchange Center. 2008-09-25. Archived from the original on 2010-12-14. Retrieved 2010-12-29.
  5. ^ a b WikiLeaks (2009-06-02). "WikiLeaks wins Amnesty International 2009 Media Award". WikiLeaks. Archived from the original on 2010-12-28. Retrieved 2010-12-29.
  6. ^ "Oscar King'ara, Paul Oulu Gunned Down Along State House Road". 2025-05-27. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
  7. ^ "U.N. urges probe into Kenya activists' slayings". NBC News. 2009-03-06. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
  8. ^ Amuke, Isaac Otidi (2019-08-08). "ISAAC OTIDI AMUKE - Dying for Justice: Who Killed Oscar Kingara and George Paul Oulu? - The Elephant". Retrieved 2025-08-16.
  9. ^ "Killings couldn't have come at a worse time". The Standard. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
  10. ^ "Rule of law reels in Kenya". 2009-03-06. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
  11. ^ "Students' protests marked by destruction and looting". The Standard. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
  12. ^ "Officers held over death of student freed". Daily Nation. 2020-07-03. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
  13. ^ "Kenyan police accused of killing activists". Daily Nation. 2020-07-03. Retrieved 2025-08-16.


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