Petition to Interpol Member Countries: Reject Mohammed Amin’s Candidature for the Interpol Executive Committee
To: The General Assembly and Member Countries of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol)
From: Francis Gaitho
Date: June 14, 2025
I, Francis Gaitho a citizen of Kenya, urgently call upon the 196 member countries of Interpol to reject the candidature of Mohammed Amin, Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) of Kenya, for election to the Interpol Executive Committee as the Africa Region representative.
His nomination, announced by Kenya’s Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on June 13, 2025, is deeply concerning given his documented record of gross misconduct, human rights violations, and professional incompetence.
Interpol’s mission is to facilitate international police cooperation while upholding the highest standards of integrity, human rights, and the rule of law.
Electing an individual with a history of abductions, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, suppression of dissent, shoddy investigations, contempt of court, and executive malfeasance would undermine Interpol’s credibility and enable further abuse of its systems.
I present the following evidence to support my call for rejection:
1. Abductions, Extrajudicial Killings, and Enforced Disappearances
Mohammed Amin’s tenure as DCI has been marked by a pattern of abductions, extrajudicial killings, and enforced disappearances targeting dissenters, activists, and critics of the Kenyan government. These acts constitute serious human rights violations and demonstrate a calculated effort to suppress dissent. Notable cases include:
• Abductions of Youth Activists: There is currently public outrage over Amin’s leadership of rogue officers responsible for abducting and killing youths, particularly those involved in protests or anti-government activism. For instance, the abduction and extrajudicial murder of a blogger Albert Ojwang is linked to Mohammed Amin, whose officers under his direct command and instructions picked up the young boy from his parents house, only to end up dead at Central Police Station in Nairobi 12-hours later.
• Enforced Disappearances: Reports from Kenyan civil society organizations, such as the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), have documented cases of individuals disappearing after being detained by DCI units under Amin’s command. These incidents often target vocal critics of the government, with no accountability for the perpetrators.
• Extrajudicial Killings: The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has repeatedly flagged extrajudicial killings by police units, with DCI operatives implicated in several high-profile cases. Amin’s failure to investigate or discipline officers involved suggests complicity or negligence.
Such actions mirror the transnational repression tactics criticized in Interpol’s own history, where authoritarian regimes misuse police powers to silence opponents. Electing Amin risks endorsing similar abuses on an international stage.
2. Suppression of Dissent Through Targeted Cases
Amin has overseen the DCI’s use of fabricated or politically motivated charges to target dissenters, a tactic reminiscent of Interpol’s documented abuses by member states like Russia and the UAE. Examples include:
• Harassment of Activists: The DCI has initiated cases against activists and journalists based on flimsy or trumped-up charges, such as “incitement” or “cybercrime,” to intimidate and silence them. These cases often lack credible evidence and are dismissed in court, but not before causing significant harm to the accused.
• Targeting of Opposition Figures: Amin’s DCI has been accused of selectively pursuing opposition politicians and their supporters while ignoring crimes linked to ruling party allies, indicating a politicized approach to law enforcement.
This pattern of suppressing dissent through active cases violates Interpol’s constitution, which prohibits involvement in activities of a political character. Amin’s leadership risks extending such practices to Interpol’s global operations.
3. Shoddy Investigations and Protection of Corrupt Politicians and Criminals
Amin’s DCI has consistently demonstrated incompetence or deliberate bias in investigations involving politically connected individuals and corrupt barons, allowing them to evade justice. Key examples include:
• Politically Motivated Case Closures: Investigations into high-profile corruption scandals involving politicians and business tycoons are often abruptly closed or lack thoroughness, suggesting interference or complicity. For instance, cases flagged by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) have stalled under Amin’s watch, with no credible outcomes.
• Kware Dumpsite Murders: The horrific discovery of bodies at the Kware dumpsite in Nairobi exposed the DCI’s failure to apprehend a serial killer, who reportedly escaped custody due to negligence or deliberate sabotage. This case, widely covered in Kenyan media, underscores Amin’s inability to lead effective investigations into serious crimes, raising questions about his suitability for an Interpol leadership role.
• Escape of Criminals: Reports of suspects, including those linked to organized crime, escaping DCI custody point to systemic failures or corruption within Amin’s administration.
These lapses not only erode public trust in Kenya’s DCI but also signal Amin’s unsuitability for a role requiring impartiality and competence in international police cooperation.
4. Contempt of Court Orders and Disregard for the Rule of Law
Amin has repeatedly displayed contempt for judicial authority, undermining the rule of law:
• Refusal to Attend Court Hearings: Amin has been cited for failing to appear in court when summoned, particularly in cases involving police misconduct or human rights violations. This defiance sets a dangerous precedent and reflects a disregard for legal accountability.
• Ignoring Court Orders: The DCI, under Amin, has been accused of ignoring court orders to release unlawfully detained individuals or produce evidence in ongoing cases. Such actions violate the principles of due process and judicial independence, which Interpol is duty-bound to uphold.
A candidate who flouts court orders cannot be trusted to respect Interpol’s commitment to human rights and legal standards.
5. Incompetence and Executive Malfeasance
Amin’s leadership has compromised the independence of the DCI, transforming it into a tool for executive malfeasance:
• Abdication of Oath of Office: By allowing the DCI to serve political interests rather than the public, Amin has violated his oath to uphold justice impartially. His actions have eroded the agency’s credibility and independence, as mandated by Kenyan law.
• Politicization of the DCI: Amin has overseen a DCI that prioritizes executive directives over professional investigations, aligning with government agendas to shield allies and target opponents. This politicization mirrors the abuses Interpol has faced from member states exploiting its systems for political gain.
• Failure to Address Internal Corruption: Allegations of corruption within the DCI, including bribery and evidence tampering, have gone unaddressed under Amin’s leadership, further evidencing his incompetence.
Conclusion and Call to Action
Mohammed Amin’s record of human rights abuses, suppression of dissent, shoddy investigations, contempt for the law, and incompetence disqualifies him from serving on Interpol’s Executive Committee.
His election would not only tarnish Interpol’s reputation but also risk perpetuating the very abuses the organization has sought to reform, such as the misuse of Red Notices and transnational repression.
I urge Interpol’s member countries to:
1. Reject Mohammed Amin’s candidature at the upcoming General Assembly.
2. Uphold Interpol’s commitment to human rights, integrity, and impartiality by electing candidates with unblemished records.
3. Investigate allegations against Amin to ensure accountability and prevent the normalization of such conduct within Interpol.
I call on member states to prioritize Interpol’s mission over political considerations and protect the organization from becoming a tool of oppression.
Please send your objections to Interpol’s Secretariat at [email protected], with the subject line: “REJECT KENYA’S MOHAMMED AMIN NOMINATION.”
Signed,
Francis Gaitho
