Man Accused of Trafficking to Russia Files Kshs 10 Million Lawsuit Against Police Officer Over Alleged Rights Violations
Nairobi, Kenya – In a bold legal counterstrike amid ongoing human trafficking allegations, Edward Kamau Gituku, a Kenyan national accused of orchestrating the illicit transport of adult citizens to Russia, has launched a High Court petition seeking KSh 10 million in damages from a senior police officer. Gituku claims that his arrest and subsequent detention were marred by severe constitutional breaches, turning what he calls an "unproven" accusation into a personal ordeal of injustice.
The petition, lodged through advocate Danstan Omari, targets Sergeant Bramwel Saima, an officer with the elite Transnational Organised Crime Unit (TOCU). Gituku alleges that Saima, acting in his official capacity, subjected him to a cascade of rights violations that he describes as a "gross infringement" under Kenya's Bill of Rights. At the heart of the complaint are protections enshrined in Articles 49 and 50 of the Constitution, which safeguard the dignity of arrested persons and ensure the right to a fair hearing.
According to court documents, the saga unfolded during Gituku's apprehension and holding period, where he was allegedly denied fundamental procedural safeguards. Among the grievances detailed in the filing are unlawful detention without just cause, a deliberate blockade on access to legal representation, and a failure to clearly communicate the precise charges against him prior to any court appearance. Compounding these issues, Gituku was purportedly held incommunicado, a practice that shrouded his location from family members and attorneys, effectively isolating him from external support and exacerbating his vulnerability.
Gituku, who has consistently maintained his innocence in the underlying trafficking charges, frames this lawsuit not merely as a bid for compensation but as a stand against systemic overreach by law enforcement. The accusations against him center on his supposed role in a shadowy network facilitating the movement of Kenyan adults to Russia, a route often linked to exploitative labor schemes and geopolitical tensions. However, with no convictions or formal charges substantiated in the public record to date, Gituku's advocates argue that the police actions represent an overzealous pursuit that trampled his presumptive innocence.
The High Court, under Justice Bahati Mwamuye, took up the matter during a procedural mention on Tuesday, marking a pivotal step in the unfolding drama. In a streamlined ruling, the judge permitted the withdrawal of a preliminary Notice of Motion dated September 29, 2025, without imposing any costs on the parties involved. This cleared the path for the core petition to advance unencumbered, signaling the court's intent to delve deeper into the merits.
To keep the momentum, Justice Mwamuye issued a tight timeline for submissions, underscoring the urgency of resolving these constitutional claims. Sergeant Saima, as the respondent, has been granted until October 31, 2025, to file his formal reply and counterarguments. Following that, Gituku's side must furnish a supplementary affidavit along with detailed written submissions by November 7, 2025. The officer's team will then have until November 21, 2025, to submit rebuttals, aiming to dismantle the petitioner's narrative.
The next court date is set for December 2, 2025, when both sides will reconvene for a compliance check and further directions from the bench. This hearing could prove instrumental in either bolstering Gituku's bid for redress or exposing potential flaws in his account, potentially influencing not just this case but broader discussions on police accountability in transnational crime probes.
As Kenya grapples with rising concerns over human trafficking networks preying on vulnerable citizens, often luring them with false promises of opportunity abroad, Gituku's dual role as accused and accuser adds layers of complexity. His petition highlights the precarious balance between combating organized crime and upholding individual liberties, a tension that resonates deeply in a nation still reckoning with high-profile rights abuse scandals within its security apparatus.
Observers note that successful claims like this could set precedents for detained suspects, compelling reforms in arrest protocols and detention oversight. For now, as affidavits are prepared and legal strategies sharpened, the eyes of justice watch closely. Gituku's quest for KSh 10 million in reparations – covering pain, suffering, and lost opportunities – serves as a stark reminder that the pursuit of one form of justice must never come at the unchecked expense of another. The High Court's forthcoming deliberations will undoubtedly ripple through Kenya's legal and law enforcement landscapes.