Two Kenyan police officers have become the latest casualties in a widening rift between law enforcement and public sentiment, following the government’s controversial handling of Gen Z-led protests in July.
Hiram Kimathi, a vocal officer who publicly criticized government “shoot-to-kill” orders during the Saba Saba demonstrations, claims he has been pushed out of the force.
“They’ve cut off my salary and marked me as ‘deserted’ on the roster,” Kimathi told TUKO.co.ke, calling the move a “prelude to formal dismissal.”
His refusal to accept a transfer to Turkana’s remote Todonyang post, a move he believes was punitive, appears to have sealed his fate.
But Kimathi isn’t alone. His colleague, Dennis Munyao, known affectionately online as Afande Denno, is also eyeing the exit. Munyao rose to national prominence during the June 25 protests for shielding Gen Z demonstrators and urging dialogue over force.
His actions earned public praise but also internal backlash.
“I was told I breached national peace. Now they’ve formed a committee to review my dismissal,” Munyao said, adding, “I cannot start assaulting Kenyans now, when all my life they’ve been my friends.”
Both men say they are paying the price for prioritizing community policing and human rights over rigid orders. Their stance has won them support online but cost them career stability within a force increasingly seen as politicised.
Their dismissal coincides with the launch of the Fighting Brutality and Impunity (FBI) movement — an initiative spearheaded by former NIS operative and 2027 presidential hopeful Patrick Osoi.
The movement, co-founded by Kimathi, seeks to investigate extrajudicial killings and defend officers caught in the political crossfire.
