Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have confirmed the arrest of police officer Hiram Kimathi, who had earlier made headlines after refusing a transfer to the remote Todonyang Police Station in Turkana County.
Kimathi was arrested at his home in Kambakia, a residential area in Makutano, Meru County. The DCI stated that his arrest was the result of an intelligence-led operation that took place around 1 p.m. on Friday, August 1.
Sources close to the investigation say that Kimathi’s arrest is linked to the formation of a controversial group known as Fighting Brutality and Impunity (FBI).
Authorities believe this group is operating outside the law, even though it claims to be fighting against police brutality and government impunity. Kimathi is suspected to be one of the key figures behind the group’s creation.
His arrest follows closely on the heels of two other arrests connected to the same group—those of Jackson Kuria Kimani, popularly known online as Cop Shakur, and former Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldier Patrick Osoi.
Detectives allege that all three individuals played leading roles in forming and promoting the movement, which they claim is causing unease within law enforcement circles.
Kimathi first attracted national attention in July when he posted a video on social media refusing to comply with an official transfer. In the video, he claimed that he had been moved from Kyumbi Police Station, located near Machakos Junction, to Todonyang Police Station on the Kenya-Ethiopia border.
He stated that he believed the transfer was a form of punishment and a message from the government to other police officers who dared to speak out or refuse to follow certain orders.
According to a letter Kimathi shared online, he had been directed to report to the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) at Todonyang for further instructions once he arrived.
Since the arrest, Kimathi’s legal team has criticized the authorities for failing to clearly explain the reasons behind his detention. His lawyers argue that the manner in which he was arrested and held raises serious concerns about transparency and due process.
The DCI, however, released a brief statement confirming that Kimathi is currently being processed and will be arraigned in court once investigations are complete.
Just days before Kimathi’s arrest, Cop Shakur also found himself in police custody. He was taken into custody outside the Kahawa Law Courts, where he had gone to show support for Patrick Osoi, who had been arrested the previous day.
Shakur, a former Kenya Prisons Service officer, recorded the moment of his arrest and shared it online.
He was stopped by plainclothes officers on his way to the court, and the video of the arrest quickly gained traction on social media, drawing public attention and raising concerns over freedom of expression and assembly.
The arrests of Kimathi, Shakur, and Osoi have sparked debates about the rights of police officers, freedom of speech, and how dissent is handled within Kenya’s security forces.
The public now awaits further developments as the DCI continues its investigation into the trio’s alleged activities and the goals of the controversial FBI group.
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