NIS, KWS Officers & 13 Cops Charged With Murder Of Indians Who Helped Ruto

13 police officers alongside a National Intelligence Service (NIS) officer and a Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) warden were on Thursday, February 20 charged at a Kiambu High court with the murder of two Indian nationals and a Kenyan.

Peter Muthee Gachiko a Chief Inspector of Police, James Kibosek, (Inspector of Police) Joseph Kamau Mbugua, David Chepchieng, Joseph Mwenda, John Mwangi, and Hillary Limo (Corporals) were charged with the murder of the two Indians namely; Zaid Sami Kidwai, and Zulfiqar Ahmad Khan, who were said to have been kidnapped days leading to the August 9, 2022 general elections alongside their Kenyan driver, Nicodemus Mwania.

Others included Stephen Luseno, Simon Muhuga, Paul Njogu, Boniface Otieno, Elkana Njeru and Fredrick Thuku (Constables) who were charged alongside John Wanjiku Macharia, (NIS) and Michael Kiplangat, (KWS).

Zulfiqar Ahmed Khan (L) and Mohamed Zaid Sami (R) were reported missing together with their Kenyan taxi driver Nicodemus Mwania Mwange (not pictured) in July 2022. /CITIZEN DIGITAL

The court heard that on the night of July 22 and 23 2022, near Ole Sereni Hotel along Mombasa Road within Nairobi County, jointly with others not before the court, the accused abducted and killed the three aforementioned persons.

"They pleaded not guilty to the charges before Lady Justice Abigael Mshila, in a case prosecuted by Everlyn Onunga, Augustine Gacharia, Victor Owiti, Allen Mulama, Benjamin Kelwon and Kennedy Amwayi," stated the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in a statement.

The officers were actively serving in the various security agencies at the same time with the police officers attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) under the now-disbanded Special Service Unit (SSU) wing.

The case will be mentioned on March 20, 2025, for directions, including a ruling date on bail/bond application.

The deceased Indians were aiding Ruto's campaign team in coming up with various strategies, according to Digital strategist Dennis Itumbi. They arrived in Kenya in April as part of Ruto's ICT team but disappeared in July after being kidnapped outside Ole Sereni Hotel off Mombasa road.

"This was one unit that was literally used to kidnap, assault, maim and kill innocent people. They targeted those who supported the election of Ruto as President," Itumbi stated at the time.

"Zaid and Ahmad were just good people who became my friends and in the process connected with some in our team. They visited Mombasa, Homabay, Mara, Nyama Choma joints, and damn they loved our dance joints too," he described the duo, adding that the two had invited him to India but he promised to visit after the polls.

The SSU unit was disbanded by President Ruto after it was linked to enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. It was formed on December 31, 2019, after the Flying Squad was disbanded by the former director of DCI, George Kinoti.