The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has filed 17 new charges against 15 security officers over the alleged kidnapping of two Indian nationals and their Kenyan driver in 2022.
The suspects — 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 — are scheduled to appear before the Kahawa Law Courts on September 7, 2026, for plea-taking.
The suspects will appear before Senior Principal Magistrate Njeri Thuku following summons issued by the court.
According to the prosecution, the officers face charges including kidnapping with intent to murder, conspiracy to commit a felony, and subjecting a person to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
The kidnapping charge has been brought under Section 258 of the Penal Code, while the conspiracy charge falls under Section 393 of the Penal Code. The prosecution is also relying on Section 51(3) of the National Intelligence Service Act, No. 28 of 2012, in relation to the alleged cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
Additional charges relate to forgery, committing cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, and cooperating in the execution of such treatment.
The case stems from the disappearance of Indian nationals Zulfiqar Ahmed Khan and Mohammed Zaid Sami Kidwai, who had worked on William Ruto’s digital campaign team during the 2022 General Election.
The two were travelling with Nicodemus Mwania Mwange, a Kenyan taxi driver, when the three disappeared on the night of July 22 into July 23, 2022.
The prosecution alleges that on July 22, 2022, in Nairobi County, the suspects travelled in four motor vehicles alongside other individuals whose identities have not been disclosed.
They allegedly trailed and intercepted a vehicle carrying Khan, Kidwai and Mwange near the Ole Sereni Hotel along Mombasa Road.
The disappearance subsequently led to the arrest of 15 security personnel. The group comprised 13 officers from the disbanded Directorate of Criminal Investigations' (DCI) Special Service Unit (SSU), one National Intelligence Service (NIS) officer and one Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) warden.
The latest charges were filed after the High Court terminated earlier murder proceedings against the accused officers, allowing the DPP to institute fresh charges based on the evidence available.
The prosecution team comprises Victor Owiti, Betty Rubia, Bridgit Atieno, Anthony Musyoka, James Machirah, Kennedy Amwayi and Harrison Kiarie.
The 15 suspects will return to court on September 7 for plea-taking, marking a fresh stage in the long-running case surrounding the disappearance of the two Indian nationals and their Kenyan driver.
