Inspector General of the National Police Service Douglas Kanja and Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss Mohammed Amin have skipped court again in the case of the missing Mlolongo 4, saying the summons were served ‘too late’.
This absence marks their third no-show, exacerbating public concern over the accountability of Kenya’s law enforcement leaders and the whereabouts of the missing individuals.
The two were scheduled to appear before Justice Chacha Mwita at the High Court in Nairobi on Friday 17th January 2025, to address inquiries regarding the whereabouts of four individuals abducted in Kitengela.
A Twist to The Tale
Their defiance also came a few days after Public Service Cabinet Secretary (CS) Justin Muturi publicly criticized the government, implicating his colleagues in government, for failing to protect citizens from these abductions.
He specifically narrated his ordeal involving his son, Leslie Muturi, who was abducted in June 2024.
Also Read: Justin Muturi Changes Tune Over Son’s Abduction
The Mlolongo Four, Stephen Mbisi Kavingu, Martin Nyukwa Mwau, Kalani Mwema, and Justice Mutumwa, have been missing for nearly a month after being abducted on December 16 and December 17 last year at different locations in the outskirts of Nairobi.
Hard Time Appearing in Court
Kanja and Amin have had trouble appearing at the court. In December, the duo was ordered by Justice Diana Kavedza to produce six suspects abducted in December 2024.
The orders required that the victims be produced before the court on December 31, 2024. This never materialized.
The matter was referred to Justice Mwamuye, who ordered the two to appear in court and explain why they should not be held in contempt for failing to comply with the orders.
On January 8, Kanja and Amin failed to appear before Justice Bahati Mwamuye of the same court division, to respond to questions regarding the abduction of seven people in a case filed by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), among others.
Stern Warnings from Judiciary
In his ruling, Justice Mwamuye summoned the two to appear at the next hearing scheduled for January 27, warning that failure to attend would result in their imprisonment.
”If the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, misses the third hearing, I will have no option but to cite, convict, and sentence him on the spot,” ordered Justice Mwamuye.
On Monday 13th January 2024, the two were scheduled to appear before Justice Chacha Mwita at the High Court in Nairobi to address inquiries regarding the whereabouts of four individuals abducted in Kitengela.
Also Read: Murkomen, IG Kanja Fail to Appear in Court Over Abductions
This followed an earlier petition where the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) had moved to court for an order directing them to produce the four individuals in court.
”That in the alternative, an order of habeas corpus is hereby issued directing the Inspector General of Police and the Director of Criminal Investigations to personally produce the bodies of Justus Mutumwa, Martin Mwau, Karani Muema, and Stephen Kavingo before this court on January 13, 2025, at 10 am” Justice Mwita ruled.
Justice Mwita subsequently ordered Kanja and Amin to appear in court in person on Friday 17, at 10 am without fail.
A Pattern of Avoidance or Procedural Challenge?
In each instance, the primary reasons explicitly communicated for their absence has been engagements with official duties and the late service of summons, as articulated by their legal representative Paul Nyamondi.
This suggests a consistent issue with the timing of legal notifications or perhaps a deliberate strategy to challenge the procedural aspects of their court appearances.
Families In Agony
The families of the Mlolongo abductees are enduring uncertainty and agony as the court proceedings involving their missing loved ones drag on without resolution. Mary Muema, the mother of Kulani Muema, described her son as “the family’s sole breadwinner,”,
“I am pleading with those holding my son to release him,” she said.
Her anguish is palpable as she navigates through the ordeal of her son’s disappearance. Margaret, Kulani’s aunt, shared the emotional toll, stating,
“It’s better to know someone has died rather than live with the pain of losing them while they’re still alive.”
She further expressed frustration with the judicial process, saying,
“The process feels suspicious because nothing is happening since Kulani was abducted. For almost a month, no case has been brought to court, and there has been no clear communication from the authorities.”
The ongoing court delays only deepen the families’ distress, leaving them in a state of perpetual uncertainty and sorrow.
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