NAIROBI, Kenya – The High Court has ordered Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to produce missing digital activist Ndiangui Kinyangia in court or provide a satisfactory explanation for his disappearance, as fears of enforced disappearance grow.
Justice Chacha Mwita issued the directive on Monday morning while presiding over a habeas corpus application filed by Kinyangia’s family and human rights defenders, who say he was abducted over a week ago, allegedly by individuals linked to state security agencies.
“This is an application of habeas corpus touching on a Kenyan who is a human being,” Justice Mwita said. “I have taken into account the fact that the second applicant has not been found for 10 days and that the life of a citizen is in danger.”
The court directed that the Inspector General must produce Kinyangia, or explain his absence, in person before the court by Tuesday at 11:00 a.m..
The matter is set for a physical mention as pressure mounts on security agencies to account for the missing blogger.
Ten Days Without a Trace
Kiangui, 35, is a popular digital activist best known for his commentary and mobilisation efforts on X (formerly Twitter) under the handle Dacuin Da.
He was last seen on Saturday, June 21, shortly after telling his mother via WhatsApp that he would be offline for a short while.
Later that day, family members reported a raid on his home by at least 10 men in unmarked Subaru vehicles, believed to be linked to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
The men reportedly broke into his home, confiscated phones, laptops, travel documents, and left behind a handwritten inventory marked with a DCI logo—without presenting a warrant.
Since then, there has been no official communication from the National Police Service, the Interior Ministry, or the DCI, despite missing persons reports filed at Kinoo and Kikuyu police stations.
Legal and Rights Community Responds
The Law Society of Kenya, which filed the habeas corpus application on behalf of Kinyangia’s family, described the case as a textbook example of enforced disappearance.
Wahome Thuku, the family’s lawyer, said, “We reasonably believe the police are involved or know where he is. This disappearance is not only unlawful—it’s dangerous.”
Amnesty International Kenya and the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) have also condemned the alleged abduction, insisting that if the state believes Kinyangia has committed any offence, he must be presented in court—not detained incommunicado.
The High Court has now directed that the application be served on the respondents by close of business Monday, with official responses expected within seven days.
Kinyangia’s disappearance has become a rallying point for activists and civil society organisations, particularly in the wake of the June 25 protests where police were accused of using excessive force and targeting demonstrators.
The hashtag #FreeNdianguiKinyangia has trended across social platforms, with many linking his case to what they describe as a broader crackdown on dissent.
