The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has declined to investigate the disappearance of Kenyan activist Mwabili Mwagodi, who went missing on Wednesday, July 24, 2025.
In a statement dated Saturday, July 26, 2025, Vocal Africa CEO and activist Hussein Khalid revealed that the DCI turned away Mwabili’s family when he accompanied them to the agency’s offices, stating that the matter did not fall within their jurisdiction.
“Today, we accompanied the family of Mwabili to the DCI to officially ask them to intervene in his matter. The DCI refused to take up Mwabili’s case, citing that it does not fall under their jurisdiction,” read part of the statement.
DCI Refuses to Investigate Disappearance of Activist Mwabili Mwagodi
Besides the DCI, Hussein Khalid stated that he had also reported the matter to the police and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Earlier, Hussein had issued a separate statement claiming that the Tanzanian government is aware of Mwabili Mwagodi’s whereabouts and that his abduction was allegedly coordinated in conjunction with Kenyan authorities.
“We know that Mwabili Mwagodi is being held by @SuluhuSamia’s government with the blessings of Kenya’s government. East Africa is fast becoming a region of tyranny and oppression. Let it be clear that we hold both Tanzania’s and Kenya’s governments responsible for Mwabili’s abduction,” Hussein stated.
Also Read: Kenyan Activist Abducted in Tanzania
The development comes amid mounting pressure on security agencies and the Ministry of Foreign affairs regarding the whereabouts of Mwabili.
The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) has also issued a statement condemning Mwabili’s abduction.
In a statement, KHRC condemned the disappearance of the activist, noting that “this pattern of repression, enabled by cross-border collusion, is a grave violation of local, regional, and international human rights law.”
KHRC Condemns the Activist’s Alleged Abduction
Additionally, the Commission issued the following demands to the Kenya and Tanzania governments:
1. Immediate and unconditional release of Mwagodi from unlawful detention.
2. In the interim, full disclosure by the Tanzanian and Kenyan regimes on Mwagodi’s exact whereabouts, physical and mental condition, and immediate access to his family and legal counsel.
3. An end to Kenya’s complicity in cross-border abductions, torture, and enforced disappearances.
4. Independent investigations into the threats made against Mwagodi’s family by Kenyan security agencies.
5. Regional and international accountability for Kenya and Tanzania’s repressive actions.
The appeal to the DCI came just a day after Mwabili’s family made an emotional plea to the public and authorities, following reports that he had been abducted under unclear circumstances in Tanzania.
Speaking to the press, BBC journalist Isabella Kituri, who is Mwabili’s sister, called for justice and demanded to know her brother’s whereabouts.
Mwabili, a renowned activist, reportedly went missing on the evening of Wednesday, July 24, 2025. The family learned of his disappearance around 5 p.m., informed by individuals concerned about his safety.
Also Read: Emotional BBC Journalist Speaks After Brother’s Abduction Over ‘Ruto Must Go’
According to Isabella, those who raised the alarm believed Mwabili’s recent social media activity and civic engagement may have been factors behind his abduction.
“They told us he’s missing and they are concerned. They had already reported the matter and obtained an OB number,” Isabella said during a press briefing.
Following the report, the family began reaching out to friends, colleagues, and organisations for help in locating him. Civil society group Vocal Africa joined the effort to raise awareness and push for accountability.
Isabella stated that their goal is to ensure that whoever is holding him knows that the matter is now public, and that that responsible will be held to account.
She defended her brother’s actions, asserting that he was only fulfilling his civic duty as a law-abiding Kenyan citizen.
She also urged the Kenyan government to act swiftly and engage the appropriate legal channels to resolve the issue.
Mwabili rose to national prominence during the Gen Z 2024 protests, where he became known for campaigns aimed at deplatforming politicians including President William Ruto from the pulpit, advocating for the separation of politics and religious spaces.
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