NAIROBI, Kenya —High Court Judge Chacha Mwita has issued a stern ultimatum to Inspector General Douglas Kanja and Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss Mohamed Amin, demanding the immediate release of four men who went missing in Mlolongo, Machakos County, last December.
Justice Mwita directed both police leaders to personally appear in court on January 17, reinforcing the urgency of the matter.
High Court Judge Chacha Mwita has given IG Douglas Kanja and DCI boss Mohamed Amin a last chance to immediately release four men who went missing in Mlolongo in December last year. #starkenyanews
The missing men, identified as Justus Mutumwa, Martin Mwau, Karani Mwema, and Stephen Mbisi Kavingo, were allegedly abducted on December 16 and 17, 2024, by unidentified individuals from their homes.
The disappearance of the four men has sparked public outrage, with many accusing the police of inaction and complicity in the growing trend of forced disappearances in the country.
The Law Society of Kenya, which filed the petition for their unconditional release, highlighted the disturbing pattern of abductions, urging the court to intervene.
Mbisi’s wife said her husband was taken from their home shortly after showering, leaving their room locked and untouched.
Mbisi’s colleagues were abducted a day earlier, adding to the anguish and uncertainty faced by their families.
Despite reporting the incidents to the Mlolongo Police Station and the DCI headquarters in Athi River, the police have maintained they have no information regarding the men’s whereabouts, stating investigations are ongoing.
This case adds to a growing list of unresolved abductions in the country, with the latest being Prominent Tanzanian activist Maria Sarungi Tsehai, who was abducted by armed men and later released hours after the incident.
Amnesty International Kenya and other human rights groups have condemned the trend, calling for accountability and immediate action to curb these human rights violations.
