SSU officers detained over disappearance two Indians yet to be taken for DNA

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SSU advocate Omaiyo Mogaka addressing media outside Milimani Law Courts. PHOTO/Suek

Nine SSU officers accused of being behind the disappearance of two Indian nationals are yet to be taken to the National Forensic Laboratory for their DNA to be taken.

Through lawyers Omaiyo Mogaka and Danstan Omari, the nine officers have written to the Director of Public Prosecution conveying their grievances.

In the letter, the officers are apprehensive that the investigators could be up to some mischief in trying to find a way to secretly present them in another lab other than the national forensic lab at DCI headquarters in the absence of their duly appointed forensic scientist.

The court had directed that the SSU officers be presented at the national lab to give blood samples for analysis in the presence of their personal pathologist.

“By a copy of this letter, we wish to relay our clients’ disgruntlement that they shall be vehemently objecting to being presented in any other laboratory other than as ordered by the court,” the lawyers stated in the letter.

This was to enable the investigators to compare their DNA with the blood on the exhibits in their custody.

Omari said that the officers have already appointed their pathologist who will be present during DNA collection as ordered by the court in order to safeguard the integrity of the process.

According to the letter, the lawyers will oppose any application to extend the time beyond the 21 days that were granted by the court.

The court granted the investigators the orders on 10th November 2022, which shall lapse on 1st December 2022.

According to investigators, they required 21 days to collect and analyse DNA samples of the suspects, a time during which they were to remain incarcerated.

The officers of the defunct SSU unit were arrested in connection to the disappearance of the two Indian nationals on 24th July 2022.

Zulfiqar Khan and Mohamed Zaid were working with President William Ruto’s campaign team during the election campaign period.

The officers are believed to have abducted and murdered the two foreigners.

The officers are Francis Ndonye, Peter Gachiku, John Kamau, Joseph Mbugua, Joseph Mbaya, David Kipsoi, Stephen Mutunda, Paul Muriithi and Simon Gikonyo.

The matter will be mentioned on 1st December 202.