Killer squad was formed while I was in government – Gachagua claims

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua now claims that a killer squad of 101 officers was formed when he still served in government.

Speaking on Wednesday, Gachagua claimed the officers were selected from the Administration Police Service (APS) and taken for specialised training.

He alleged that the National Intelligence trained them on abductions, killings and cover-up.

“This squad of 101 people was formed when I was still in government. The officers were recruited from the Administration police unit for special training by NIS on abductions, killings and cover-up,” he claimed.

Gachagua claimed the unit works directly under the NIS boss.

The former DP spoke on the viral video showing a gun-carrying unit that was hooded with masks that was shooting at protesters at an unknown location on July 7.

He claimed that it is the same killer squad.

Gachagua stated that the unit was given an unmarked Subaru vehicle to make people believe that it was officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

“A killer squad of 101 that works under the direct general of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) Noordin Haji was armed assault rifles and drove in a convoy of unmarked Subarus shooting and killing innocent protesters aimlessly. This squad in Subarus and hooded and masked against court orders are disguising themselves as DCI, yet they are not.

“I want to clarify that the NIS has procured Subarus to give the impression that this killer gang is from DCI. The truth of the matter is this has nothing to do with DCI,” he further claimed.

A report from the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) said that as of July 8, 31 fatalities, 107 injuries, two cases of enforced disappearance, and 532 arrests had been recorded.

The commission also noted widespread destruction of property, though the value of the damage remains unconfirmed.

In contrast, a statement from the National Police Service (NPS) presented a significantly different account, putting the death toll at 11 police-related fatalities.

They said 52 police officers and 11 civilians had been injured, and a total of 567 people had been arrested across the country, including Gitonga Mukunji, Member of Parliament for Manyatta constituency.