NAIROBI, Kenya — Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has dismissed claims that the government is operating a covert “killer squad” targeting demonstrators, despite growing public alarm over a shadowy, heavily armed unit that has been seen at the center of deadly crackdowns on anti-government protests across the country.
“There is no known police squad that is involved in killing people—at least not in this administration,” Murkomen said on Tuesday during a press briefing in Nairobi. “It would be unconstitutional and illegal to establish a squad to kill people.”
His remarks follow fresh outrage over disturbing footage from the July 7 Saba Saba protests, which showed a convoy of unmarked, high-performance vehicles—mainly Subaru Outbacks—storming protest hotspots in Nairobi and Kajiado counties.
The occupants, masked and heavily armed, moved with military-like coordination and, in multiple instances, opened live fire on demonstrators.
Footage from Ngong, Kiserian, and Kitengela captured scenes of gunshots ringing out, followed by protesters lying motionless in the streets.
In total, at least nine people were confirmed dead in areas where the squad was reportedly deployed.
Witnesses say the gunmen made few, if any, arrests—one video showed two youths being beaten and dragged into one of the vehicles, but most operations appeared geared toward dispersing or neutralizing crowds through lethal force.
A Pattern of Violence in Satellite Towns
This is not the first time the mysterious unit has appeared during protests.
Similar unmarked convoys have been deployed repeatedly since mid-2024, particularly during intense demonstrations in Nairobi’s satellite towns—Kitengela, Embakasi, Syokimau, and Mlolongo.
Notably, the same masked squads were accused of carrying out deadly operations during the June 25, 2024, and again on June 25, 2025, anniversary protests when protesters marked the date with renewed calls for political reform.
In all instances, the appearance of the Subaru convoys has been followed by a trail of casualties and no public acknowledgment by security agencies.
Activists say the strategy appears to target areas perceived to be protest strongholds—urban outskirts where demonstrations are most disruptive.
“These unmarked units have become a pattern in every major protest cycle,” said a rights monitor based in Kitengela. “They arrive without warning, fire indiscriminately, leave people dead, and vanish. No arrests. No accountability. No transparency.”
Gachagua: It’s a State-Trained Assassination Unit
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has claimed that the squad is not rogue, but was deliberately formed by the state.
In remarks made on July 9, Gachagua alleged that a 101-member unit was recruited from the Administration Police Service and trained by the National Intelligence Service (NIS) in abduction, targeted killings, and cover-up tactics.
“This squad was formed when I was still in government,” said Gachagua. “They were trained by NIS and operate directly under its command, not the DCI. They’re using unmarked Subarus to appear like undercover police.”
Gachagua said the group’s primary mission is to suppress dissent through fear and extrajudicial force, targeting protestors without legal process.
He also accused NIS Director General Noordin Haji of overseeing the squad’s operations.
“The intention is clear—these are not random killings. They’re deliberate hits aimed at silencing the youth and other voices of resistance,” he added.
The Saba Saba Day violence marked yet another grim milestone in Kenya’s protest history.
What was meant to be a peaceful nationwide demonstration against economic inequality and government overreach instead ended in bloodshed, especially in counties like Nairobi, Kajiado, and Kiambu.
With each protest cycle, the mystery unit returns, leaving more questions than answers—and a rising death toll.
