9 GSU Officers Arrested in Nairobi After Directive by ODPP

Nine officers from the General Service Unit (GSU) were detained on Friday, November 4, at the Kibra Police Station, Nairobi, after being linked with shooting of civilians.

According to a statement by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), the officers are linked with the killing of four people after opening fire to demonstrators at Masimba, Kajiado County.

IPOA further stated that in the incident, which occurred on June 2, 2022, six other people sustained serious bullet wounds.

"The victims were part of demonstrators who had thronged the busy highway to protest invasion of their farms by elephants during which a teacher died after he was trampled on by the marauding jumbos," IPOA stated.

The policing oversight authority said that the arrest of the nine officers came after a recommendation from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).

"IPOA took up the matter on own motion after the incident was widely reported in the media. Today, Friday November 4, 2022, nine (9) of the officers were held at Kibra police station, Nairobi, pending the arraignment," IPOA stated.

According to the ODPP, the nine officers were culpable of murder and causing grievous harm to innocent civilians.

The ODPP further maintained that the use of force by the officers was unlawful and unjustified, recommending for their prosecution.

“The totality of evidence on record suggests that the GSU officers were culpable for the offence of murder contrary to section 203 as read with 204 of the penal code. Additionally, the officers are culpable for causing grievous harm contrary to section 234 of the penal code,” the ODPP stated.