- They denied involvement in the issue even as they were asked to explain their activities and where they were the day the three went missing.
- Officials aware of the developments said this is part of a wider probe being conducted over claims of forceful disappearance under the police.
Some members of a police squad that was disbanded over claims of extra-judicial killings were Monday and Tuesday grilled by their colleagues over the missing two Indians and their driver in Nairobi.
This came two days after the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Special Service Unit (SSU) was disbanded and the officers disarmed and ordered to surrender all government wares.
They are among others, under probe over the missing of Mohamed Zaid Sami Kidwai, Zulfiqar Ahmad Khan and their driver Nicodemus Mwania Mwange who were abducted near Ole Sereni and driven away in an unmarked car.
About 20 members of the team were Monday and Tuesday summoned to the offices of the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) where they spent the better part of the days recording statements.
They denied involvement in the issue even as they were asked to explain their activities and where they were the day the three went missing.
Officials aware of the developments said this is part of a wider probe being conducted over claims of forceful disappearance under the police.
The new administration in DCI under Mohamed Amin is keen to have the matter addressed.
On Saturday, all officers at the SSU were disarmed and recalled to DCI Headquarters for further instructions.
Two vehicles assigned to the unit have been linked to the disappearance of the three and are under probe.
The investigators are trying to triangulate the communication of the officers on the day the three went missing as part of efforts to establish who played what role if any.
For now, police are investigating a crime of abduction and conspiracy to commit a felony.
They have visited parts of Aberdare forest as part of efforts to trace the missing persons in vain.
President William Ruto said he gave the go-ahead for the move. He said the unit had been linked to extra-judicial killings signalling there are more changes coming.
“Mimi mwenyere niliamuru kuvunjwa kwa hicho kikosi sijui Special what (I ordered the disbandment of the unit). Our people were being found murdered and their bodies dumped in River Yala and other places. That is the sort of history we want to forget as a nation,” the President said.
Acting Inspector General of police Noor Gabow gave the directive of disbanding of the unit and ordered the officers report to the DCI.
This also comes as the National Police Service prepares for reorganization under the new administration.
Officials said Gabow had met Ruto and briefed him on the developments of the probe and the president gave the go ahead of the disbanding.
The police probe has linked the squad to the disappearance of then three men in July 2022.
The squad is one of those under DCI and has been credited for solving a number of complicated crimes including robbery, murder, fraud and abduction.
It was revamped from the defunct Special Crimes Prevention Unit and named SSU December 2019 when the then Flying Squad was also disbanded.
Police are holding two men in connection to the missing of the three since July 23.
Their car was blocked and armed men picked them up before vanishing.
Their car was found at the scene.
Police investigating the case arrested and produced Edward Kamau and Fabian Mjomba Koshn in court.
They were granted 21 days to detain them as they investigate the matter.
The two were arrested on suspicion a car they co-own was used as a getaway vehicle to take away the three.
They had a car hire business in South B.
They told police they are ICT experts who worked for two different companies.
In court, police said their car was placed at the scene where the three were abducted.
This was through a review of CCTV footage.
The investigators also said the two and others may be connected to the offence and that they could be government officials and associated with state officials.
Further, the police said they believe the two worked in cahoots with serving police officers and asked the court not to free them as this is likely to interfere with ongoing investigations.
“From the time the applicant took over investigations, and in the course of gathering evidence, it has faced interference from serving public servants including police officers,” says the court documents.
To date, the papers say the whereabouts of the victims are not known but efforts to trace them are in progress.
The investigators say the investigation is complex and requires more time and collaboration with other government agencies including India where Sami and Khan hail from.
The court granted the police 21 days on October 7 to hold the two as investigations go on.
The two Indians are said to have been part of a team that had come to Kenya to join an IT team for Ruto to run the election campaigns.
Officials say Khan, 48, has an illustrious media career as he last worked as the Chief Operating officer of Balaji Telefilms.
Prior to that, he was also the Managing Director of the OTT platform HOOQ and the Business Head and Chief Revenue Officer of Eros Now.
He started his media career as a trainee with Star India and grew to be the Senior Vice President of Advertising Sales where he managed several channels like Star Plus, Star Gold, Star Sports, National Geographic, Chanel V.