- Two Kenyan police officers are facing dismissal for siding with Gen Z protesters.
- Hiram Kimathi was removed from the police payroll and labelled as “deserted.”
- Dennis Munyao, known as Afande Denno, is under review for possible expulsion.
- Both officers opposed the forceful crackdown during the July protests.
- They are now part of a new movement aimed at fighting brutality and impunity.
Hiram Kimathi, a police officer who publicly rejected government orders to use force during the Saba Saba protests, has revealed that he is no longer being paid and is marked as “deserted” in the system. He believes this is the government’s way of quietly getting rid of him.
Kimathi also turned down a transfer to a far-flung station in Todonyang, Turkana, saying it was meant to punish him. After refusing the move, the disciplinary steps began, signalling that his time in the service may soon come to an end.
Another officer, Dennis Munyao, popularly known as Afande Denno, is also in trouble. He became widely admired during the June 25 protests when he protected young demonstrators and encouraged peaceful engagement instead of violence. While the public saw him as a hero, the police command did not take kindly to his actions.
According to Denno, he was told his conduct threatened national peace. A committee has since been formed to determine whether or not to dismiss him. He says he cannot turn against Kenyans, who have always supported him.
Kimathi and Munyao are both paying heavily for choosing compassion over orders. While many Kenyans have praised their approach, the police service appears unwilling to accommodate their humane way of enforcing the law. Their future in the force is uncertain as a result of their pro-people decisions.
The crisis around the two officers has led to the creation of a new group, Fighting Brutality and Impunity (FBI). It is a civil movement led by Patrick Osoi, a former intelligence officer and now a 2027 presidential aspirant. Kimathi is among the co-founders of the initiative.
The group plans to expose extrajudicial killings and support police officers who suffer for standing up for justice. For Kimathi and Denno, this might be the start of a bigger mission beyond the badge.
