NAIROBI, Kenya – The hearing into the case of blogger Ndiang’ui Kinyagia begins today, marking a new chapter in a saga that began with his sudden disappearance in June, allegedly linked to his outspoken posts on social media.
Kinyagia went missing shortly after officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) reportedly visited his home on June 21.
According to his family, the officers failed to provide clear reasons for their visit, raising fears of an impending arrest related to his critical online commentary.
Concerned for his safety, Kinyagia’s relatives filed a habeas corpus petition, demanding that authorities produce him in court.
The DCI, however, denied arresting or detaining the blogger, saying he was only a person of interest in connection to alleged inflammatory content published online.
The mystery surrounding his whereabouts persisted until July 3, when Kinyagia appeared in court, with his lawyer Wahome Thuku revealing that he had gone into hiding for his own protection after learning he was being pursued.
In response, the court issued protection orders barring police from arresting him and directed that he present himself for questioning under legal safeguards.
The hearing now seeks to determine whether the police acted within the bounds of the law, and whether Kinyagia’s constitutional rights—particularly his right to free expression—were infringed upon.
Rights groups have been closely watching the case, warning that it could set a precedent for how authorities handle dissent in the digital age.
