Former US Army Veteran Had Launched Group Against Police Brutality and State Impunity
Nairobi, Kenya— A team of detectives on Tuesday evening raided the home of Patrick Osoi, a former Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Special Forces operative and US Army veteran, arresting him over claims he was planning to organize ex-security officers into an anti-government political movement.
The arrest came just hours after Osoi publicly unveiled his new activist initiative, the Fighting Brutality and Impunity (FBI) group, which he described as a platform to challenge state-sanctioned abuse and support security officers penalized for refusing illegal commands.
His communications team described the late-night raid and arrest as an “abduction,” saying the former soldier was taken by heavily armed security agents without explanation. A statement on Osoi’s official X (formerly Twitter) account read:
“Free Patrick Osoi!! H.E. Patrick Osoi was abducted last night by a contingent of heavily armed men. Reasons for this are still unknown.”
By Wednesday morning, Osoi had been located at Muthaiga Police Station, where he is being held and is expected to face charges of preparation to commit a felony.
In his earlier public statement, Osoi explained that FBI was formed to defend the rights of citizens victimized by extrajudicial killings and to support former officers who were dismissed for refusing to carry out illegal state orders.
“Having served as a KDF Special Forces soldier, NIS officer, and US Army veteran, I took the solemn initiative of forming a movement dubbed Fighting Brutality and Impunity (FBI),” he wrote.
“We will fight for every Kenyan mistreated by rogue police, for families of those killed, and for officers neglected by the very system they served.”
In a defiant and emotional message, Osoi declared his willingness to sacrifice for his cause:
“I would rather die with my head high than live in modern-day slavery. No force can silence the truth. No walls can stand against the people who refuse to kneel.”
Teaming Up With Silenced Officers
Osoi’s team included Hiram Kimathi, a police constable who was transferred to Todonyang Police Station on the Kenya–Ethiopia border after refusing to obey a controversial shoot order while stationed at Kyumbi Police Station.
Also working with Osoi was Jackson Kuria Kihara, better known as Cop Shakur, a prison officer who was suspended after participating in the June anti-Finance Bill protests. He was later arrested for his activism and public criticism of state decisions.
The FBI movement, according to Osoi, aimed to give voice to the silent frustrations of officers and citizens alike—those who, in his words, “refuse to betray their conscience for a paycheck.”
Growing Concerns Over State Crackdown
Osoi’s arrest comes at a time when civil society groups and human rights defenders are increasingly alarmed by what they describe as a growing crackdown on dissent.
Recent weeks have seen a surge in arrests, police intimidation, and reports of enforced disappearances, as the government grapples with mounting criticism over governance and security conduct.
“This is a troubling moment,” one human rights advocate told local media. “We are witnessing a dangerous trend where speaking out can cost you your freedom—or worse.”
As pressure builds for his release, Osoi’s arrest is already galvanizing online movements and drawing attention from international observers concerned about freedom of expression and security sector accountability in Kenya.
