Operations Support Unit

Also known as: OSU

Operations Support Unit — police unit within the National Police Service formed in late 2022, linked to abductions and allegations of abuse.

2026-05-102026-10-18

News reports

Order a long-term news report on Operations Support Unit

Every mention in the Kenyan press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

September 2026
10 SeptThe Standard
… ble digital and documentary evidence, recording additional statements, processing the vehicle of interest, and establishing the identity and involvement, if any, of officers implicated in the incident,” said IPOA.The officers are said to be attached to the Operations Support Unit …
IPOA keen on unmasking Kiprotich's abductors
7 SeptThe Standard
Zachary Kiago Kariuki, the police commander at the centre of the Operations Support Unit (OSU), is facing renewed scrutiny over allegations of abductions, torture, and abuse of authority involving both civilians and officers under his command. …
The commander and the clandestine unit: Inside OSU's expanding trail of allegations
2 SeptCitizen Digital
… he Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-m', container: 'taboola-mid-article-thumbnails', placement: 'Mid Article Thumbnails', target_type: 'mix' }); This unit, known as the Operations Support Unit …
Revealed: Shadowy police unit linked to abduction of journalist Alex Kiprotich
August 2026
26 AugThe Standard
… oods at Bukembe Shopping Centre, where detectives recovered tens of bags of sugar and branded sacks believed to have been used in the alleged repackaging operation.According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), a team of detectives from the Operations Support Unit …
DCI bust alleged illegal sugar repackaging syndicate
11 AugCitizen Digital
… Audio By Vocalize Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations' (DCI) Operations Support Unit (OSU) have arrested six suspects and rescued three Indian nationals who were reported missing shortly after arriving in Kenya, in what investigators believe is a suspected …
Six arrested as DCI rescue three Indians in suspected human trafficking case in Ruiru
11 AugCapital News
NAIROBI, Kenya Aug 11 – Detectives from the Operations Support Unit (OSU) have arrested six suspects and rescued three Indian nationals who were reported missing after arriving in Kenya on August 5, 2026. …
Three Indians Rescued, Six Arrested in Suspected Human Trafficking Case in Ruiru
11 AugThe Standard
Audio By VocalizeDetectives from the Operations Support Unit (OSU) have arrested six suspects and rescued three Indian nationals who had been reported missing after arriving in Kenya on August 5. …
Three missing Indian nationals rescued in Ruiru
June 2026
23 JunCitizen Digital
… Lumumba was arrested by detectives from the DCI's Operations Support Unit (OSU) on April 5, 2024, shortly after arriving in Nairobi from Entebbe, Uganda. …
Fake tantalum scam mastermind jailed, ordered to refund Chinese investor Ksh.151M
23 JunCitizen Digital
… Lumumba was arrested by detectives from the DCI's Operations Support Unit (OSU) on April 5, 2024, shortly after arriving in Nairobi from Entebbe, Uganda. …
Fake tantalum scam mastermind jailed, ordered to refund Chinese investor Ksh.151M
5 JunCapital News
… The breakthrough follows extensive forensic examinations and intelligence-led investigations conducted by detectives from the Homicide Directorate, the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau (CRIB), the Operations Support Unit (OSU), and Nakuru County investigative teams. …
DCI Seeks Public Help to Identify Key Person of Interest in Reverend Julius Ngari Murder Probe

Society

IPOA investigates identity of four police officers in Kiprotich abduction

The News

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority is working to identify four police officers involved in the September 1, 2026 abduction of Standard Group Associate Editor Alex Kiprotich. IPOA has collected CCTV and dashboard camera footage, vehicle records, and statements from the victim and a witness, and says further investigative activities including digital evidence analysis and officer identification are ongoing.

10 September 2026 · The Standard →

Thursday 10 September

IPOA investigates identity of four police officers in Kiprotich abduction
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority is working to identify four police officers involved in the September 1, 2026 abduction of Standard Group Associate Editor Alex Kiprotich. IPOA has collected CCTV and dashboard camera footage, vehicle records, and statements from the victim and a witness, and says further investigative activities including digital evidence analysis and officer identification are ongoing.
10 September 2026 · The Standard →

Monday 7 September

Police commander faces abduction, torture allegations
Zachary Kiago Kariuki, the police commander at the centre of the Operations Support Unit (OSU), is facing renewed scrutiny over allegations of abductions, torture, and abuse of authority involving both civilians and officers under his command. The scrutiny has intensified following the abduction and dumping of Standard Group Associate Editor Alex Kiprotich, an incident in which one of the officers has been identified as an OSU operative.
7 September 2026 · The Standard →

Wednesday 2 September

Police unit linked to journalist Alex Kiprotich abduction
Citizen TV investigations establish that a shadowy unit within the National Police Service called the Operations Support Unit (OSU), formed in late 2022, was involved in the abduction of Standard Group Associate Editor Alex Kiprotich and is reputed to target government critics.
2 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Wednesday 26 August

DCI arrests suspect in illegal sugar repackaging operation
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations arrested a suspect in Bungoma South Sub-County linked to an illegal sugar repackaging and rebranding syndicate. Police recovered 76 bags of West Valley Sugar, nine bags already repackaged in Chinese-branded sacks, 10 empty Mayuge Sugar bags, and 26 additional bags from a vehicle.
26 August 2026 · The Standard →

Tuesday 11 August

DCI arrests six, rescues three Indian nationals in suspected trafficking
Detectives from the DCI's Operations Support Unit arrested six suspects and rescued three Indian nationals who went missing after arriving at JKIA on August 5 and were being held in a house in Ruiru, Kiambu County.
11 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Three Indian nationals rescued, six arrested in Ruiru trafficking case
Detectives rescued three Indian nationals who went missing after arriving at JKIA on August 5 and were found held in a house in Ruiru's Fort Jesus area. Six suspects—including an Indian national, two Pakistani nationals, and two Kenyans—have been arrested in connection with the suspected human trafficking operation allegedly aimed at facilitating travel to Italy through Ethiopia.
11 August 2026 · Capital News →
Three Indian nationals rescued in suspected human trafficking case
Detectives arrested six suspects and rescued three Indian nationals reported missing after arriving in Kenya on August 5, tracing them to a house in Ruiru, Kiambu County. Preliminary investigations indicate the suspects were assisting the three to travel to Italy through Ethiopia.
11 August 2026 · The Standard →

Tuesday 23 June

Tantalum scam mastermind jailed, ordered to repay Chinese investor
Ulundu Patrick Lumumba was sentenced to three years in prison or a fine of Ksh.10 million for defrauding a Chinese investor of Ksh.151 million through a false tantalum minerals scheme. The court ordered him to refund the investor the full amount lost.
23 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Tantalum scam mastermind convicted, jailed three years
Ulundu Patrick Lumumba was convicted of obtaining money by false pretences in a fraudulent tantalum minerals scheme that defrauded a Chinese investor of Ksh.151 million. He was sentenced to three years in prison or a fine of Ksh.10 million, and ordered to refund the investor.
23 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Friday 5 June

DCI seeks public help identifying person of interest in murder
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations is appealing to the public to help identify a key person of interest in the ongoing investigation into the murder of Reverend Julius Ndumia Ngari, who was killed on May 3, 2026, in Nakuru North Sub-County. Two suspects, Felix Odinga Okumu and Berryly Nafua Atenyo, have been arrested and charged; the case is scheduled for a pre-trial conference on June 17.
5 June 2026 · Capital News →

Saturday 23 May

Ex-KDF officer arrested for ammunition and military stores possession
A former Kenya Defence Forces Special Forces officer was arrested in Kayole following an intelligence-led operation in which detectives recovered one round of 9mm ammunition and various military items. He was arraigned at Milimani Law Courts facing charges of possessing ammunition and government stores, which he denied, and was granted a bond of Sh1 million.
23 May 2026 · Capital News →

Sunday 10 May

Two arrested in murder of Nakuru PCEA cleric Reverend Ngari
Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the May 3 murder of PCEA cleric Reverend Julius Ndumia Ngari at PCEA Tabuga Church in Nakuru North Sub-County. The suspects were found in possession of valuables believed stolen from the slain cleric during the attack, which also left a church watchman seriously assaulted.
10 May 2026 · Capital News →