Former Anti-Terror Police Unit (ATPU) boss John Gachomo was recalled to police headquarters at Jogoo House. He was accused of having close ties with George Kinoti. This comes just a day after he was promoted to lead the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU). Gachomo, who was to succeed the newly appointed director of the criminal investigations, Amin Mohamed.
Kinoti resigned as DCI boss paving the way for Amin to lead the directorate.
Insiders also lamented that Gachomo was not suited to lead IAU, which investigates police officers and recommends prosecution, as he was in charge of the Anti-Terror Police Unit in the past.
The dreaded police force has always been scrutinised and criticised, with civil societies accusing it of extra-judicial killing, kidnappings and torture of suspects accused of terrorism.
Reports further alleged that key security stakeholders opposed his promotion.
Human rights organisations recently urged President William Ruto to also disband alleged killer groups in the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and the Anti-Terror Police Unit (ATPU) previously led by Gachomo.
The group claimed that the troops not only engaged in extrajudicial killings but also enforced disappearances like their counterparts at the defunct Special Service Unit (SSU) attached to the DCI.
Ruto disbanded SSU, arguing that it was behind forced disappearances and the killing of suspects. He also ordered investigations to be conducted on the unit’s officers.
Missing Voices Kenya files petition
Missing Voices Kenya, a group of human rights organisations documenting cases of forced disappearances, further urged the President to look into 600 cases linked to the rogue cops. Missing Voices stated that 101 people were killed by the police or disappeared in the period between January and October 2022.
To that effect, Acting Inspector General of Police Noor Gabow is rushing against time to find a cop who will coordinate well with human rights activists at IAU.
Esther Ngang’a, who served as the IAU acting deputy director, will lead the unit temporarily until a successor is announced.
