13 police officers, a National Intelligence Service (NIS) officer, and a Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) warden were on Thursday February 20,2025 charged with the brutal murder of two Indian nationals and a Kenyan taxi driver who went Missing in July 2022
Appearing before Kiambu High Court Lady Justice Abigael Mshila the officers denied three charges of Murder levelled against them by the Director of Public Prosecution Renson Ingonga
“We not guilty pleas to the murder charges,” all the officers stated
The accused, including Chief Inspector Peter Muthee Gachiko, Inspector James Kibosek, Corporals Joseph Kamau Mbugua, David Chepchieng, Joseph Mwenda, John Mwangi, Hillary Limo, and several constables, along with NIS officer John Wanjiku Macharia and KWS warden Michael Kiplangat, faced charges for the deaths of Mohammed Zaid Sami Kidwali, Zulfiqar Ahmed Khan, and Nicodemus Mwania Mwange.
The trio disappeared in July 2022, with authorities alleging that on the night of July 22 and into the early hours of July 23 the accused abducted and killed the victims near Ole Sereni Hotel on Mombasa Road, Nairobi County.
At the time of the incident, the accused police officers were serving within the now-disbanded Special Service Unit (SSU) of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
The Prosecution alleges the officers planned the killing of the two foreigners and they taxi driver before dumping their bodies at at Aberdares Forest ahead of the 2022 general elections.
The officers are also implicated in the abduction of the victims, with the case also being heard at the Kahawa Law Courts.
The prosecution team, led by Everlyn Onunga, Augustine Gacharia are seeking to oppose the release of the officers on bail.
The officers who are represented by Lawyer Danstan Omari seeks to be released on bail pending trial saying they will cooperate with investigations.
The court has scheduled the next mention for March 20, 2025, when further directions will be given, including a ruling on bail applications.
