Five police officers who once served with former Pangani officer Ahmed Rashid have testified in court, stating they did not witness him shoot or kill two youths in Eastleigh in 2017.
The officers Chief Inspector Abdul Rahman Ndegwa, Owen Oketch Ausi, Corporal Gideon Kibet Ruto, Constable Robert Rono, and Wilfred Omboga appeared before Justice Diana Kavedza at the Kibera Law Courts on Monday.
Rashid, who faces murder charges over the deaths, is represented by lawyers Danstan Omari and Stanley Kinyanjui.
Testifying in court, Omboga said he was on duty on March 30, 2017, working a night shift from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am. The next afternoon, he was informed by his OCS that suspected criminals had been spotted in Eastleigh.
“I went with my colleagues to Eastleigh First Avenue, where we found a large crowd blocking the road. We began dispersing the crowd, and many officers were present, including Rashid,” Omboga told the court.
He added that he fired four shots in the air to control the crowd and later saw two young men lying dead, said to be members of the Gaza gang. “I did not see Rashid shooting or killing the two youths,” he testified.
Constable Rono, who was also on duty that day, told the court that he and three colleagues were in plain clothes as part of the SPIV unit and were armed with Jericho pistols. He admitted that his weapon was not logged in the movement book, though he claimed this was a common practice as long as the firearms were not misused. Rono confirmed Rashid was his senior but denied ever handing him his weapon.
Corporal Ruto, now stationed in Wajir, explained that the SPIV unit had about 50 officers drawn from Pangani, with Rashid heading one of the units. He said officers generally reported to Rashid unless the matter required the OCS’s attention.
Ruto said he was not on duty during the incident but later learned through social media that two suspected criminals had been shot dead. He described the Gaza gang as a violent group notorious for killing officers, stealing uniforms and weapons, and terrorizing residents.
So far, 10 witnesses have testified in the case. The prosecution has 21 more lined up.
The hearing resumes tomorrow.
