A High Court bench, led by Justice Chacha Mwita, has demanded that the Inspector‑General of Police, Douglas Kanja, and DCI Director Mohammed Amin produce the disappeared IT activist and blogger, Ndiang’ui Kinyagia, “dead or alive.” The directive came after neither the IG nor the DCI head appeared in court on July 1 to explain Kinyagia’s whereabouts.
Kinyagia, a software developer, vanished on Saturday, June 21, shortly after posting the schedule for the June 25 protests on his X (formerly Twitter) account. Witnesses reported that about ten individuals, allegedly DCI officers in three Subaru vehicles, forcefully entered his residence in Kinoo, Kiambu County, and abducted him.
Justice Mwita, visibly exasperated by the absence of proper accountability, told the officers’ legal teams:
“I am not interested in your drama. Produce Ndiang’ui Kinyagia, whether dead or alive.” (kenyans.co.ke)
He emphasized the improbability of someone disappearing so completely from their home without a trace.
On Monday, June 30, DCI boss Mohammed Amin publicly denied that Kinyagia was in their custody, though he confirmed the activist had been flagged as a “person of interest” for allegedly circulating “inflammatory” protest materials. Amin urged Kinyagia to turn himself in and disclosed that DCI agents had already searched his home and recovered electronic devices. Justice Mwita cited this search as ample reason for DCI to clarify Kinyagia’s status.
Kinyagia’s disappearance sparked widespread outrage. Human rights organizations—including Amnesty International and the Law Society of Kenya—have demanded his immediate production. Faith Odhiambo, chair of the LSK, confirmed that the society is preparing legal action to compel the police to produce him and provide details of the raid.
Credits: The Star
