NAIROBI, Kenya — Activist Boniface Mwangi has alleged that a police officer investigating the rape of his niece was arrested by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), disrupting the probe and allowing suspected perpetrators to remain at large.
In a statement shared on social media on Sunday, Mwangi recounted how his niece was allegedly raped in October 2025 while returning home in Juja. He said the attackers also forced her to transfer money to an M-Pesa till number before releasing her.
According to Mwangi, the matter was initially reported at Theta Police Station under Occurrence Book (OB) number 07/09/10/2025.
However, he claimed that police officers failed to record a statement or visit the scene until he personally followed up on the case with legal counsel and family members.
Mwangi said an officer identified as Inspector M.W.W. later took over the investigation and sought court orders to establish the ownership of the mobile money account that allegedly received funds from the victim.
He claimed that before the investigation could progress further, the officer was arrested by the DCI’s Serious Crime Unit in January 2026.
According to Mwangi, investigators allegedly questioned the officer over suspected links to anti-government protests and seized her mobile phone and laptop for forensic examination. He further alleged that repeated phone communication between him and the officer had been flagged through state surveillance mechanisms.
“The wheels of justice in Kenya grind slowly or sometimes never even start,” Mwangi said, while praising the officer’s efforts to advance the investigation.
The activist claimed the officer subsequently cut off communication with him and ceased handling the rape case after the arrest, fearing professional repercussions.
Mwangi further alleged that a second assault and attempted rape later occurred in the same area, involving suspects matching descriptions provided by his niece. He cited another police report recorded under OB number 02/03/03/2026.
He argued that failure to pursue the initial investigation may have enabled further crimes to occur.
The allegations come amid ongoing national debate over police accountability, digital surveillance, and the handling of gender-based violence cases. Kenya has faced growing scrutiny from civil society organisations over claims of unlawful surveillance, enforced disappearances, and the treatment of activists and government critics.
Mwangi also criticised the allocation of public resources to intelligence operations, arguing that security agencies wield significant powers while the justice system remains underfunded and burdened by case backlogs.
He announced that he and his family would participate in a women’s march against femicide, gender-based violence, and the killing and disappearance of young people.
