Mombasa police officer denies ordering uniform from civilian tailor
A senior police officer accused of unlawfully commissioning a civilian to make a police uniform and allegedly orchestrating the tailor’s arrest to cover it up denied the claims in court.
He also termed the case against him baseless and unconstitutional.
In a replying affidavit, Inspector Samuel Kariuki, the Deputy Station Commander at Changamwe Police Station in Mombasa, opposed an application filed against him and other state agencies.
He argued the suit violates constitutional provisions that safeguard the independence of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and the Inspector General of Police.
Kariuki said the application dated February 23, 2026, offends Articles 157 and 245 of the Constitution, contending it improperly seeks to direct independent constitutional offices on how to execute their mandate.
“The application is incompetent and bad in law,” Kariuki said.
He added hat the ODPP and the Inspector General are not subject to the direction or control of any individual or authority.
He said he was competent to swear the affidavit by virtue of his position and knowledge of the matter, and that he was responding on behalf of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th respondents.
This follows a cast that pits Kariuki against a Mombasa-based NGO, the Centre for Litigation and Trust, which has accused the officer of abuse of office and misconduct.
The organisation alleged that Kariuki, while serving as Deputy OCS at Changamwe, unlawfully instructed a civilian tailor, Mark Onyango Otweyo, to make him a police uniform in breach of service regulations.
The NGO claims Kariuki paid Sh4,200 for the uniform before allegedly turning against the tailor to conceal the alleged misconduct.
The officer is accused of orchestrating Onyango’s arrest and ensuring he was charged with obtaining money by false pretences.
A charge sheet filed in court indicates Onyango was accused of receiving the money on August 9, 2025, while pretending he was in a position to make a police uniform.
The NGO argued the charge was fabricated to shield the officer from accountability.
Through its Executive Director Julius Ogogoh, the organisation urged the court to compel investigations into the officer’s conduct, saying no police officer has authority to engage unauthorised civilians to manufacture official uniforms.
Ogogoh said such actions pose security risks, including impersonation and counterfeiting, warning they could compromise national security.
He said while constitutional offices are independent, that independence should not be used as a shield against scrutiny and accountability.
Justice Wendy Kagendo directed that the application be mentioned for compliance on March 18, 2026.
Police have been complaining about lack of uniforms in the past year which forced some of them to seek them from civilians. Police and other security agencies usually get at least two pairs of uniforms for a certain period free of charge. But a shortage of the same has forced some of them to get them elsewhere.