Nairobi, Kenya — The High Court has ordered the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Mohamed Amin, to personally appear before the court on Thursday, July 3, 2025, to explain the whereabouts of missing blogger Ndiang’ui Kinyagia.
Issuing the directive on Tuesday, Justice Chacha Mwita pointed out that DCI officers were the last known individuals to visit Kinyagia’s residence in Kinoo before his disappearance on June 21.
“The DCI officers visited his residence, and they are the only ones who were there when he disappeared. The caretaker has not sworn an affidavit. The DCI conducted a search, and this person disappeared. We need an explanation as to where he is,” said Justice Mwita.
The judge clarified that the appearance order applies solely to the DCI Director and not to Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, who was previously ordered to produce Kinyagia or provide a satisfactory explanation by Tuesday, July 1, 11:00 a.m. However, the IG failed to produce the blogger or provide clarity on his whereabouts.
Justice Mwita emphasized that Amin must personally account for the agency’s actions in the ongoing case, which has sparked public outrage and legal challenges.
The case has drawn sharp criticism from civil society and political leaders, with Senior Counsel Martha Karua accusing the DCI of blatantly defying court orders and failing to take the matter seriously.
“There has been no compliance. They are not taking the orders of this court seriously,” Karua told the court. “It is their business to find him — that’s why we pay them.”
The High Court’s intervention follows a habeas corpus application filed by Kinyagia’s legal team, demanding that the state account for his whereabouts. Kinyagia was allegedly seized by unidentified individuals shortly after a DCI-led search at his apartment. His family and human rights groups suspect enforced disappearance by state agents — a claim the DCI has denied.
The matter will be mentioned again on Thursday, with the court expecting a direct explanation from the DCI chief.
By Were Kelly
