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Former Kenyan police officer Ahmed Rashid is on trial at the High Court in Nairobi, facing two murder charges for the 2017 killing of two unarmed teenagers in Eastleigh, a busy neighborhood in the capital. The trial is being closely watched and is seen as an important test of police accountability in Kenya.
The court, led by Justice Diana Kavedza, reviewed video footage showing Rashid shooting the two boys—Jamal Mohamed and Mohamed Dahir Kheri—at close range in a public area. The footage, taken from Nairobi’s city surveillance system and confirmed as genuine by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), showed Rashid wearing a red T-shirt and plain clothes as he chased and shot one of the teens near Amal Shopping Complex. Another clip showed Rashid slapping a wounded teen before firing his pistol again.
The killings happened on March 31, 2017. The videos quickly went viral, causing widespread public anger both in Kenya and abroad. Prosecutors say the teens appeared unarmed and were not resisting when they were killed. The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), which investigates police misconduct, concluded that Rashid used illegal force and recommended that he be charged with murder. He was formally charged in April 2023 and pleaded not guilty. He was released on bail of Ksh200,000.
At the time of the shooting, Rashid was part of a special police unit known as the Starehe Special Police Initiative and Vigilance (SPIV), or the Pangani Six. The group was tasked with cracking down on violent criminal gangs in Nairobi, especially the Gaza gang in Kayole and the Super Power gang in Eastleigh. These gangs were known for violent robberies and killings, and had made life unsafe for many residents.
In court, DCI surveillance expert Frederick Gichuki testified that police were acting on a tip that about ten armed Gaza gang members had traveled from Kayole to Eastleigh to commit a robbery. Undercover officers were sent to monitor the suspects using the city’s CCTV and vehicle tracking systems. When four suspects entered a building, the officers quickly moved in, leading to the fatal shooting of the two teens.
The prosecution argues that even if the police had reason to act, the use of deadly force was not justified. The CCTV clips, which were later handed over to investigator Constable Joseph Owanga and certified for court use, showed no signs that the victims were armed or threatening the officers.
The case has sparked heated debate in Kenya. Some people, especially business owners in Eastleigh, still support Rashid. In 2022, the Eastleigh Business District Association praised him for restoring order to the area, saying life was much safer after he dealt with the criminal gangs.
However, the trial has also revealed deep resistance within the police force itself. Of six officers called to testify against Rashid, five refused to show up. The judge fined them each Ksh10,000 or gave them three-month jail terms. She also ordered the Inspector General of Police to ensure they appear in court.
This case comes at a time when many Kenyans are questioning police behavior. In 2024 alone, human rights groups reported at least 104 deaths linked to police actions and 55 enforced disappearances, many during protests against the Finance Bill led by young people. Some of those who died were later found in morgues with gunshot wounds, although official records listed other causes like drowning.
Rashid’s trial continues this week with more witnesses and forensic experts expected to testify. The final ruling could have a big impact on how police are held accountable in Kenya, especially in low-income areas like Eastleigh where officers have long acted with little oversight.