The Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss, Mohamed Amin, failed to appear before the High Court on Tuesday as directed in a case involving the alleged abduction of blogger Ndiang’ui Kinyagia.
In his court order, Justice Chacha Mwita had directed the two top police chiefs to either produce Kinyagia in court or provide a satisfactory explanation by Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. during an in-person mention of the matter.
They were further summoned to personally appear and provide an update on investigations into the blogger’s disappearance following a habeas corpus application filed by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK).
The blogger was reportedly abducted by individuals believed to be security agents.
His disappearance sparked outrage online, with civil society groups and fellow bloggers demanding his immediate release and accountability from law enforcement.
IG Kanja fails to appear in court for Ndiang’ui Kinyagia case
The absence of Kanja and Amin prompted sharp criticism from the petitioner’s lawyers, led by People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader and Senior Counsel Martha Karua, who argued that the police leadership was disregarding court authority and failing in their duty to protect citizens’ rights.
“The IG and the Director of DCI ought to be here. Nothing has been said about the blatant disobedience of a court order and that presents a serious problem,” Karua told the court.
“Secondly, even if we were to believe them, which we don’t, that they do not have him (Ndiang’ui), it is still their duty to investigate and account for the welfare of Kenyans. That’s why we pay them. Ndiang’ui went missing ten days ago, and his family reported it. So far, there’s been no update on how far they are with the investigations.”
Also Read: Who Is Ndiangui Kinyagia? Profile of Tech Expert Who Has Been Missing After State House Post
Karua also addressed the DCI Director’s public statement on Monday in which he denied having Kinyagia in custody.
In a press conference in Nairobi, Amin said that the blogger was a person of interest to the DCI and urged that him to submit and surrender himself to the authorities.
DCI denies holding missing blogger
In her submission, Karua argued that Amin’s statement unaccpetable and a case of sub judice as “he was fully aware that he was expected in court today.”
“Yesterday, my Lord, the DCI director, at 4 p.m., long after you had adjourned the hearing and given your order, decided to appear in public and deny having Ndiang’ui in custody. We therefore assume he was fully aware that he was expected in court today. It is unacceptable that he can issue a public denial yet fail to appear before this court to assist in reaching a decision. Moreover, he made that denial in a matter that is sub judice,” Karua added.
Amin on Monday confirmed that Kinyagia was linked to an X account that posted a viral photo of a mock invitation to last Wednesday’s demonstration commemorating last year’s deadly anti-finance bill protests.
Also Read: Kanja Issues Orders to Kenyans and Police Ahead of June 25 Protest
The mock image, shared on June 19, featured Kenya’s coat of arms and an itinerary of events, including a march to State House and the swearing-in of a so-called transition council.
“He was a person of interest to us after he published very, very inflammatory material on social media,” Amin told reporters, adding that police officers only searched Kinyagia’s house, confiscated electronic gadgets, and left.We managed to recover an assortment of electronic gadgets we believed would be useful to us in our investigations,” he said.
“We don’t have him; that is what I am going to say to the judge tomorrow. He should surrender to assist in our investigations,” Amin had told reporters.
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