DCI boss vows to unmask armed men who unleashed terror in Ol Kalou

Uniformed police officers deployed in Ol Kalou during the by-election had the opportunity to arrest armed hooded men but failed, raising fears the strangers were on a State-sanctioned mission to disrupt the voting exercise.

Critics, while pointing an accusing finger at Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen for being behind the organised mayhem, wonder why there was no urgency in stopping the masked men who operated in broad daylight.

Using Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs), they attacked voters, assaulted journalists and fired live rounds randomly. Despite committing these crimes, there was no immediate response from uniformed officers who watched from a distance.

Three days later, after they vanished into thin air, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has launched investigations with the intention of “unmasking” them in a move doubters dismiss as a cosmetic exercise.

DCI boss Mohamed Amin, in a statement, indicated that his officers will thoroughly probe incidents of violence and disruption, including the involvement of armed and hooded individuals.

“Detectives are actively pursuing all credible leads through forensic examination of available evidence, analysis of digital material, witness interviews and other investigative processes to identify and apprehend those responsible,” said Amin.

He promised that all persons found to have planned, financed, incited or participated in the criminal acts will be brought to justice.

“No individual will be exempt from the due process of the law on account of status, position or political affiliation,” vowed Amin.

The DCI boss reiterated that in collaboration with sister services in the National Police Service and other relevant institutions, the directorate remains steadfast in preventing electoral violence, safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process and ensuring that all acts of criminality are investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

Even as Amin promises action, questions abound on why this was allowed to happen, and under whose orders the masked men were following.

“People were wearing balaclavas in broad daylight while there was a contingent of 1,000 police officers deployed that day. It would be unlikely that the regime didn’t know who these people were. Kenyans are not stupid as this agency thinks. Those were government militia,” posted a concerned citizen on the DCI X handle.

While deploying the high number of uniformed officers, Inspector General Douglas Kanja said it was a necessary measure to ensure the by-election was adequately covered. Additionally, the general duty officers were backed by four platoons from the General Service Unit (GSU), and four water cannon tanks.

“There shall be sufficient deployment from the DCI officers whose mandate shall focus on intelligence gathering, investigation, arrest and prosecution of any party or individual involved in any electoral malpractice,” said Kanja.

But the heavy deployment did not stop the hood from unleashing terror, fueling speculations they were actually police officers operating in disguise.

Leaders and stakeholders strongly condemned the violence, associating it with State-sponsored terror.

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, whose candidate Samuel Kamau Ngotho was contesting on a Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) ticket, emerged victorious, accusing Murkomen of orchestrating the chaos.

"If Murkomen has called for an investigation, he must call for an investigation into his own person because he is the one who authorised these attacks in Ol Kalou," he claimed.

Concerned Kenyans insist the hooded men were police officers working in camouflage, in total violation of a court decree that they must always identify themselves during security operations and public protests.

In August 2024, High Court Judge Bahati Mwamuye directed IG Kanja to ensure that his officers do not hide their identity or face when deployed on volatile assignments.

Justice Mwamuye ordered that the officers must, at all times, wear name tags complete with service numbers as part of their uniform when providing security or engaging with people picketing, demonstrating or assembling.

The ruling followed a move by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) to go to court to seek orders barring police from operating incognito during the anti-government protests demanding the rejection of the 2024 Finance Bill.

“Some of these police officers were in civilian clothing or plain clothes, covering their faces with masks, balaclavas and other clothing to disguise themselves as goons and militia,” argued the lawyers.

Following an almost similar modus operandi in Ol Kalou, Amin has urged members of the public with additional information that may assist the investigations to share it confidentially through the #FichuaKwaDCI toll-free line 0800 722 203 or via WhatsApp on 0709 570 000.

“The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has launched investigations into incidents of violence and disruption reported during the Ol Kalou by-election, including the involvement of armed and hooded individuals,” said the DCI boss.