NAIROBI, Kenya — The High Court has summoned Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Mohamed Amin to appear in person and account for the whereabouts of missing security analyst Mwenda Mbijiwe, who allegedly disappeared after a police arrest four years ago.
Justice Martin Muya on Tuesday directed the two top security chiefs to present themselves on December 16, 2025, at 11 am, citing a lack of progress and clarity in investigations into Mbijiwe’s disappearance. The judge said the gravity of the matter demanded direct accountability from the highest levels of the National Police Service.
The order followed submissions by the family’s lawyer, Evans Ondieki, who accused investigative agencies of failing to provide any credible explanation about what happened to Mbijiwe.
“The family has waited for four years without answers. No coherent explanation has been given by the police regarding the status of investigations,” Ondieki told the court. He insisted that Mbijiwe was arrested by police officers along Roysambu Road in 2021 and has not been seen since.
According to the family, Mbijiwe’s fate—whether alive or dead—remains unknown, fueling suspicions of enforced disappearance. The court heard that an investigative report forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) did little to clarify matters and failed to identify those responsible for the alleged abduction.
In an emotional plea, Mbijiwe’s mother told the court she believes her son is being held incommunicado by the State. She described years of frustration, saying she had moved from one government office to another without meaningful assistance.
“I have knocked on every door for answers. I believe my son is alive, but someone in government knows where he is,” she said.
Representing the ODPP, prosecutor Zachary Omwenga said the office intends to forward the case to a Magistrate’s Court to open a formal inquiry, a step permitted under the Criminal Procedure Code when the circumstances surrounding a possible crime remain unclear.
However, he conceded that the DCI report does not indicate who abducted or detained Mbijiwe.
The court was also informed that before his disappearance, Mbijiwe had expressed interest in vying for the Meru gubernatorial seat, a development the family’s lawyer suggested may have put him in conflict with influential individuals.
“Those believed to be holding him are powerful people in the country,” Ondieki claimed, urging the court to compel deeper scrutiny of the case.
Justice Muya underscored the constitutional obligations of the National Police Service, noting that unresolved enforced disappearance allegations undermine public confidence and violate the rights enshrined in Articles 29 and 49 of the Constitution.
“This is a matter of great public importance. The top leadership must explain the status of this investigation,” the judge said, ordering IG Kanja and DCI Amin to personally provide an update on the steps taken to trace Mbijiwe.
The case has revived national debate about alleged enforced disappearances and accountability within security agencies. Human rights groups have repeatedly urged the State to establish clearer oversight mechanisms and ensure independent investigations into cases linked to security personnel.
As the December 16 appearance approaches, the family says it remains hopeful that the court’s firm stance will finally break the four-year silence.
