Is senior police boss running a rogue tribal unit in the city?

A security unit made up of rogue police officers who are assigned to carry out State-sanctioned operations has piqued other uniformed officers in Nairobi.

The unit, made up of four officers from one tribe and three others from another, has been operating with a lot of impunity and was heavily deployed during the anti-government protests by the Opposition.

Multiple sources within the police stated that officers were recruited by a police boss in Nairobi early this year. Uniformed officers blamed the rogue unit for using excessive force during the anti-government protests, risking the lives of all policemen and protestors.

"The officers were on Monday asked by their boss to avoid media, which include social media, print or digital media," a senior officer told the Nairobian.

More than four people died during the protests, scores were injured and property worth millions of shillings was destroyed.

"The attack on journalists was well coordinated. Several journalists were injured during the protests. It is the highest number since multiparty," a top officer told the Nairobian.

 A plainclothes police officer lobs a teargas cannister inside a press vehicle during Azimio protests. [Photo: Raphael Njoroge]

The rogue officers were behind serious crimes in the last two weeks during protests.

"They were not taking orders from their seniors around them. Their orders came from above. They didn't observe ethics nor obey anyone around them," an officer who understood their operations stated.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga, who called off the protests last Sunday after agreeing to a dialogue with President William Ruto on the way forward, warned the officers were shooting to kill during the protests.

"There's no justification for the excessive force used against peaceful, unarmed citizens exercising their democratic rights today.

"The unprovoked attack left my car hit with seven live bullets aimed at me. Despite this, we won't be deterred," Raila said before he called off the protests.

The rogue unit has other officers who are also facing various cases following crimes they committed. Officers in Nairobi who cannot be named said the heavily armed officers have been using ambulances and vehicles with diplomatic or fake number plates.

"On Monday at the DCI, there are officers who were assigned to monitor media, identify the videos being taken, and inform their bosses. A good number were not happy with the assignments," a DCI who was at the headquarters told the Nairobian on the phone.

The officers have been drawn from or served in the lethal Administration Police Special Force (SOG), Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU), which is known to handle hardcore criminals.

The unit, which is now using ambulances and other secret means of transport, is suspected of being used for dirty operations employed by the Kenya Kwanza government during protests.

Meanwhile, civil society groups have blamed the police for triggering violence during protests.

"We walked with protestors several times and the police started the violence during the protests," Independent Medical and Legal Unit Peter Kiama said. [Nairobian Reporter]