13 police officers, a National Intelligence Service (NIS) agent, and a Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) warden were on Thursday arraigned before the Kiambu High Court, facing murder charges in connection with the abduction and killing of two Indian nationals and a Kenyan. The case, linked to the now-disbanded Special Service Unit (SSU) of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), marks a critical moment in Kenya’s ongoing efforts to address extrajudicial killings and police misconduct.
The accused, including Chief Inspector of Police Peter Muthee Gachiko, Inspector James Kibosek, Corporals Joseph Kamau Mbugua, David Chepchieng, Joseph Mwenda, John Mwangi, and Hillary Limo, appeared before Lady Justice Abigael Mshila. Other accused officers are Constables Stephen Luseno, Simon Muhuga, Paul Njogu, Boniface Otieno, Elkana Njeru, and Fredrick Thuku, alongside NIS officer John Wanjiku Macharia and KWS warden Michael Kiplangat. They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecution alleged that on the night of July 22 and July 23, 2022, the accused, in collaboration with others not before the court, abducted and murdered the three victims near Ole Sereni Hotel along Mombasa Road in Nairobi County. The case is particularly significant, given that the SSU had been previously accused of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial executions before being disbanded in 2022.
During the court session, the defense applied for bail, a request that will be determined during the next mention of the case on March 20, 2025. This hearing will also provide further directions on how the trial will proceed.
The case has attracted national and international attention, as it underscores the broader concerns over human rights abuses and police accountability in Kenya. The victims, whose identities were previously revealed as two Indian IT experts working on a digital campaign for Kenya’s 2022 general elections and a Kenyan driver, were allegedly forcibly disappeared under circumstances that raised significant alarm.
The disbandment of the SSU was one of the early decisions taken by President William Ruto’s administration as part of a broader push for police reforms. However, the trial of these officers will be a crucial test of the government’s commitment to justice and accountability.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the outcome of this case could set a precedent for handling similar allegations of police excesses in Kenya. The court’s decision on bail and subsequent rulings will be closely watched by human rights organizations, legal experts, and the general public.
