Recently, several individuals linked to the abduction of Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi’s son Leslie have come under increased public scrutiny, including Said Kiprotich, head of Kenya’s Anti-Terrorism Police Unit.
Kiprotich was one of the officers Muturi attempted to contact in an effort to locate his son, after receiving intelligence from a friend in the National Intelligence Service (NIS) who claimed he was being held by the security agency.
Muturi made the remarks while recording a statement with the police at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Tuesday, January 15.
Said boasts an extensive career in the security sector. He previously led the defunct Flying Squad, a controversial unit that rose to notoriety during the late President Daniel Moi’s era, known for its harsh tactics, including extrajudicial killings, violent arrests, and intimidation.
Born and raised in California, Eastleigh, Kiprotich was appointed the new director of the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) in 2023, succeeding Johnstone Kola, who retired after serving in the position for several years.
Saidi previously served as the director of operations at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters.
Before that, Kiprotich was the director of operations at the Nairobi Regional Command, before being transferred to the DCI, where he continued to serve in the same role.
He has previously served as the County Commander for Taita Taveta and with the Special Crimes Prevention Unit.
Under his leadership, the ATPU, formed in 2003, works in conjunction with the National Police Service and other security agencies to prevent and investigate terrorism-related cases in the country.
Kiprotich recently received a delegation of Staff Delegates from the United States, led by Ms. Kelly Dixon Chambers, the Staff Director of the House Rules Committee, during a courtesy visit to the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit Headquarters.
Following the visit, several agreements were made, including partnerships in intelligence gathering and sharing, capacity building, the donation of modern crime-fighting equipment, and the development of resource centers.
“My unit had benefitted immensely courtesy of various sponsored programs by the United States, especially the Mike Solis-led Anti-Terrorism Assistance program,” he noted.
He also highlighted several successful convictions of terror suspects, which were made possible through close collaboration and evidence analysis between his unit and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
