Saturday Nation
Missing men: Bones found in Aberdares flown to Nairobi
Bones, clothes and belts believed to belong to the two missing Indians and their Kenyan driver were transported from Aberdare forest to Nairobi for forensic analysis yesterday as investigations into their disappearance shifted a gear higher.
Investigations have narrowed down to 12 officers who were part of the disbanded Special Service Unit (SSU), believed to have participated in the abduction of the three men.
At least 21 officers are said to have been interrogated by the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) at their headquarters in Upper Hill, Nairobi.
Three of these officers had reportedly by last evening been identified as having played a direct role in the disappearance of the Indians, who are thought to be ICT experts.
The three officers – a chief inspector, a sergeant and a corporal – had their official cars detained at Capitol Hill police station, Nairobi, when a review of CCTV footage from the roads near the hotel the two Indians were kidnapped captured them.
Zulfiqar Khan, Mohamed Zaid and taxi driver Nicodemus Mwania were last seen leaving a club in Westlands after a night of partying on July 23.
They are believed to have been kidnapped near a hotel on Mombasa Road.
Skeletons found
A four-week search by a fresh team of officers on the orders of President William Ruto gave hope of closure on the matter after skeletons and items believed to belong to the three were found in the Aberdares.
A team of at least 100 police officers drawn from several stations had since Monday been combing the forest under the command of the IAU which took over the investigations on September 18.
This was after it emerged that an assistant inspector general of police based at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) was said to have been among the senior officers frustrating investigation by Langata police station where it was first reported.
The discovery of the bones and other items came a week after it emerged that India had complained to Kenya, demanding the release of the two men who were at the time thought to be in police custody.
“Our High Commission has been in continuous touch with Kenyan authorities. We are also in touch with family members. We are keeping a close eye. I’m afraid they’re still missing,” the spokesman for India’s Foreign Affairs Ministry told journalists on October 14.
“They’ve been missing in Kenya since July 23. A police complaint was filed soon after that. Subsequently, a petition was filed in the Kenyan court. We understand that the issue is now… in the High Court of Kenya. A number of hearings have taken place.”
During his Mashujaa Day speech on Thursday, President Ruto promised to get to the bottom of the matter and punish those involved.
“We can efficiently and effectively suppress crime, monitor, disrupt and apprehend criminals without abducting, torturing, killing or causing citizens to disappear,” he said.
According to Indian media, Khan, 48, is a well-known media professional who previously worked as the Chief Operating Officer of Balaji Telefilms – known for soap operas, reality TV and comedy productions.
He reportedly came to Kenya as a tourist.
Not much is known about Zaid or what his mission in Kenya was.