Unmarked Squad Vehicles Linked To Fatalities On Saba Saba Protests

Disturbing new evidence has emerged linking a fleet of unmarked, high-performance vehicles, predominantly Subaru Outback models, to fatalities during the Saba Saba Day protests on Monday, July 7. Phone camera footage circulating from Kiserian, Kajiado North, and other areas has captured these vehicles moving in tight, coordinated formations through protest hotspots where deaths and severe injuries later occurred, raising serious questions about their role and the command structure behind them.

The sightings of these unmarked “squads” add a chilling dimension to the escalating concerns over police conduct during the nationwide demonstrations, which have officially resulted in at least 10 fatalities and dozens injured. Human rights organizations, including the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), have accused police of excessive force and a blatant disregard for a standing High Court order that prohibits the deployment of plainclothes officers or unmarked vehicles during public demonstrations.

Eyewitness accounts and video footage from locations like Ngong town depict these groups, often composed of masked individuals wearing balaclavas and carrying high-caliber firearms with full magazine carriers, unleashing live fire. Gunshots are heard before lifeless bodies are seen lying on the road. The units are described as operating with military-style precision, and in some clips, an unarmed figure appears to command the squad, reinforcing the impression of a clear chain of command.

Multiple casualties were reported in the wake of their operations across Nairobi and outlying towns, including two confirmed dead in Kangemi, three in Ngong, one in Kitengela, one in Kamukunji, and two others along Jogoo Road. Despite being heavily armed, the squads reportedly showed little intent to carry out arrests, with only one documented instance where two suspects were violently subdued, beaten, and bundled into one of the vehicles.

Observers have noted a disturbing resemblance between this masked squad and the controversial rapid response teams deployed during the anti-government protests of June 2024 in areas like Mlolongo, Syokimau, Embakasi, and Kitengela. These earlier units were also accused of unlawful killings and brutal crackdowns.

While the National Police Service has yet to confirm or deny the identity of these squads, the consistent lack of insignia, use of unmarked vehicles, and masked operatives strongly suggest a deliberate attempt to obscure accountability. Calls for immediate and independent investigations into potential extra-judicial killings are mounting from human rights defenders and civil society groups, who are demanding transparency and justice for the victims. This development further intensifies the public outcry and demands for police reform in Kenya