The mother of Mwenda Mbijiwe, a security expert who disappeared in June 2021, broke down in court as she recounted her painful search for answers over her son’s whereabouts, blaming the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for failing to act.
Jane Gatwiri, Mother of Mwenda Mbijiwe, told the court that her pursuit of justice has been marked by distressing encounters with officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), whom she accused of failing to provide credible information or conduct a proper investigation into the case.
“I reported the matter at Timau Police station, and I was told the matter is not yet 72 hours, so I have to wait for the hours to be over so that I can report my son as a missing person,” said Janefer.
She maintained that Mwenda was abducted by state agents along the Thika Superhighway, a claim she said has never been thoroughly probed despite her persistent efforts to seek the truth.
During the proceedings, Mwenda’s family also presented a letter they said was written in 2025 by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), seeking confirmation from the DCI on whether it had any objections to releasing Mwenda on bond.
The document, described by the family as a key piece of evidence, was handed to the court during the habeas corpus proceedings seeking answers about Mwenda’s whereabouts. If admitted into evidence, the defence argues the letter could strengthen the case by suggesting that Mwenda was at one point in police custody.
Mother of Mwenda Mbijiwe Speaks on His Disappearance
She told the court that her efforts to follow up on the case were met with silence, confusion, and shifting responsibility among law enforcement agencies, leaving her to pursue leads on her own.
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Jane added that she repeatedly visited police stations and DCI offices seeking updates but was either turned away or given vague assurances that no concrete progress was being made.
According to her testimony, no suspect has ever been presented to her, nor has she been informed of any meaningful investigative steps taken since her son’s disappearance.
She highlighted that she had previously reported it to the Kasarani police station, but the case was withdrawn without her approval or notice.
“Some people were called to report to the DCI the following morning, but it did not happen because the boss, the former DCI Kinotty, called the DCI Kasarani and ordered the closure of the file,” said Jane
Jane also disagreed with claims that she was uncooperative with the investigation regarding her son’s disappearance.
Previous Court Sessions on Mwenda’s Disappearance
In December 2025, Jane Gatwiri broke down in tears and knelt in prayer moments before hearing her son’s case.
Accompanied by a close family member, Gatwiri walked into the aisle between the courtroom benches, knelt, and bowed her head in prayer.
With her hands clasped and her voice barely audible, she uttered a short prayer as other court users looked on silently.
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Even as the court session commenced, Gatwiri continued to show signs of grief, wiping tears from her face throughout the hearing.
The sombre scene set the tone for proceedings before High Court Judge Martin Muya, who is presiding over the long-running case concerning Mbijiwe’s disappearance.
During the hearing, the court addressed the absence of Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin, who had previously been summoned to appear in court.
The court had ordered that Mbijiwe be produced in court dead or alive.
However, the two senior officers were represented in court by their lawyers, an arrangement the court criticised for contributing to delays in the case.
Gatwiri, the applicant, requested that the court issue warrants against the officers for allegedly failing to comply with court orders.
Her lawyers argued that the case had dragged on for years without meaningful progress, prolonging the family’s distress.
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