Probe of disbanded DCI squad not political, internal affairs unit says

The Internal Affairs Unit of the police which is currently investigating members of the defunct Special Services Unit (SSU) squad over the abduction and killing of two Indians and their taxi driver yesterday denied allegations that the ongoing probe into the matter is politically-motivated.

Through its investigating officers led by Wilhem Kibet, the IAU denied allegations by nine officers, who have since been arrested and detained over the abduction of the three missing persons arguing that their arrest and investigation into the matter are political.

Fundamental freedoms

“The investigations are not politically motivated as alleged, however, the constitution upholds the right and fundamental freedoms of all Kenyans including foreign nationals in Kenya,” the investigating agency informed the court.

IAU urged Magistrate Diana Mochache to grant them 30 more days to continue holding the nine officers linked to the forcible disappearance of the Indians, Mohammed Said Sami and Zulfiqar Ahmed who are claimed to have travelled to Kenya during the election period and were working with a digital media team allied to President William Ruto.

“There is a need to conduct further investigations and gather more confirmatory evidence to unearth more details to determine the involvement or otherwise of the nine officers on the disappearance of the victims herein,” IAU says.

But the nine officers namely Francis Ndonye, Peter Gachiku, John Kamau, Joseph Mbugua, Joseph Mbaya, David Kipsoi, Stephen Mutunda, Paul Muriithi, and Simon Gikonyo through lawyer Danstan Omari blamed their woes on political expediency.

I believe my clients’ prosecution is politically instigated as in the past, the Head of State has weighed in especially in his Mashujaa National Holiday speech he explicitly stated that he had issued directions for investigations in regard to the instant matter notwithstanding the fact that National Police Service is an independent office subject to directions from the office of Director of Public Prosecution,” said lawyer Omari.

Politically instigated According to the nine, they have been painted as cold-blooded killers before the courts find them guilty of the accusations. They also believe that the 30-day period being sought for their detention is meant to harass and intimidate them.

While opposing the application by the IAU to have them held in cells for another 30 days, the embattled officers told the court that they have a right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty as the utterances in the court of public opinion and remarks made by the president depicted them as killers.