Police officer Hiram Kimathi was arrested in Meru County in connection with an alleged anti-police brutality movement known as Fighting Brutality and Impunity (FBI). The group, which reportedly includes Kimathi, Jackson Kuria Kimani alias Cop Shakur, and former Kenya Defence Forces officer Patrick Osoi, is under investigation for suspected terrorism-related activities.
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, supported by local police, apprehended Kimathi at his residence in the Kambakia area of Makutano. Officers had camped outside the premises since mid-morning before Kimathi voluntarily surrendered. He was later handcuffed, placed into a Subaru, and driven away. Authorities indicated that Kimathi is expected to appear in court on Monday.
It remains unclear whether Kimathi is still a serving officer, especially after reports that he previously refused a transfer to Turkana. Authorities claim his arrest is tied to the formation of the FBI group, which aims to protest police brutality and alleged government impunity. The group has also been accused of recruiting current and former security officers to resist what they term “illegal orders.”
Kimathi’s lawyer stated that the officers did not disclose the charges against him or the location to which he was being taken. He further suggested that the arrest may be motivated by Kimathi’s outspoken stance on government issues and his involvement in activism against police misconduct. The lawyer asserted that their activities fall within constitutional freedoms, including the right to free expression.
Meanwhile, the other two accused Patrick Osoi and Cop Shakur are already in custody. Osoi, who claims to be a former National Intelligence Service officer and a U.S. Army veteran, was arraigned at the Kahawa Law Courts earlier in the week. The court ordered that he and his co-accused be held for 14 days pending further investigations.
Among the charges Osoi is expected to face are possession of a firearm and ammunition without valid certification, preparation to commit a felony, and terrorism-related offences such as recruitment and facilitation.
Cop Shakur was also arrested at the Kahawa courts as he showed support for Osoi during his hearing. The suspects have denied all allegations made against them.
