The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has filed 17 fresh charges against 15 security officers over the alleged abduction of two Indian nationals and their Kenyan driver who were part of President William Ruto’s campaign team during the 2022 General Election.
The accused persons, who include officers attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the National Intelligence Service (NIS), have been summoned to appear before the Kahawa Law Courts on September 7, 2026, for plea-taking.
The suspects are Peter Gachiku, James Tanki, Joseph Mbugua, David Kipsoi, Joseph Mbaya, John Kamau, Hillary Kipchumba, Stephen Matunda, Simon Gikonyo, Paul Muriithi, Bonface Mtulia, Elikana Mugendi, Fredrick Kamau, John Mavhari and Michael Bett.
The 15 will appear before Senior Principal Magistrate Njeri Thuku to answer to the fresh charges arising from the July 2022 incident.
Among the charges is kidnapping with intent to murder, contrary to Section 258 of the Penal Code. The prosecution has also charged the suspects with conspiracy to commit a felony, contrary to Section 393 of the Penal Code. The officers further face allegations of subjecting a person to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, contrary to Section 51(3) of the National Intelligence Service Act, 2012. Other counts accuse some of the suspects of cooperating in the execution of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, while additional charges relate to alleged forgery.
The prosecution alleges that on July 22, 2022, in Nairobi County, the suspects were travelling in four motor vehicles alongside other individuals whose identities have not been disclosed when they allegedly trailed and intercepted a vehicle carrying Mohammed Zaid Sami Kidwai, Zulfiqar Ahmed Khan and their Kenyan driver, Nicodemus Mwania Mwange.
Kidwai and Khan, both Indian nationals, had worked as digital campaign experts for President William Ruto during the 2022 General Election. The three men disappeared after they were allegedly intercepted near Ole Sereni Hotel along Mombasa Road on the night of July 22 and into July 23, 2022. Their disappearance triggered investigations that led to the arrest of 15 security personnel. The group included 13 officers from the disbanded DCI Special Service Unit, one NIS officer and one Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) warden.
The fresh charges have been filed after the High Court terminated earlier murder proceedings against the officers over the alleged abduction and killing of the three men. The decision opened the way for the prosecution to institute a fresh case based on the evidence obtained during investigations. The new prosecution therefore places before the Kahawa Law Courts allegations of kidnapping, conspiracy, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, cooperation in such treatment and forgery.
The 15 accused officers are expected to take pleas on September 7, 2026, when the fresh charges will be formally presented before Senior Principal Magistrate Njeri Thuku.
The filing of the charges does not amount to a determination of guilt, and the accused persons remain presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.
