A court in Nairobi has allowed police to detain eight officers from the disbanded Special Service Unit (SSU) for 21 days pending completion of investigations.  Kahawa Law Court Chief Magistrate Diana Mochache allowed police from the Internal Affairs Unit to extract the officers’ DNA and scrutinize their phones, for a conclusive report.  

This followed prosecution’s plea to detain the nine officers for 30 more days. However, in her ruling on Thursday, November 11, Chief Magistrate Mochache also freed one officer, Francis Muendo Ndonye on Sh500,000 cash bail after finding that investigator's document on his alleged involvement in the disappearance may have been forged. 

“I, therefore, find that the applicant has satisfied the court to be granted the application to detain the respondents,” ruled Mochache.

Ndonye was however directed to report to the investigators at any given time and is barred from travelling outside Nairobi.

The officers were arrested on diverse dates in October 2022 after they were suspected to have been involved in the disappearance of two Indian nationals and a Kenyan. 

The officers are Corporals Joseph Mwenda Mbaya and David Chepcheng Kipsoi, Constables Stephen Luseno matunda, Paul Njogu Muriithi and Simon Muhunga Gikonyo, Chief

Inspector Peter Muthee, Corporals Joseph Mbugua, Francis Ndonye and John Kamau.

President William Ruto had directed the disbandment of the elite squad as part of his plan to address extrajudicial killings in the country.

The Head of State said the police unit had become killers, instead of protectors of ordinary Kenyans. By David Njaaga, The Standard