Nairobi, Kenya — The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has dismissed claims that missing blogger Ndiangui Kinyagia is being held in state custody, terming the allegations “malicious, unfounded, and baseless.”
In response to a habeas corpus application filed by Kinyagia’s legal team, the DCI submitted a sworn affidavit through Sergeant Samuel Itegi, categorically stating that the blogger is not under their detention and that efforts to trace him remain underway.
“The second respondent did not arrest the second petitioner. He is not in the hands of my client or in their custody,” the DCI’s lawyer told the High Court on Tuesday.
The affidavit also details intelligence reports received on June 20, 2025, allegedly linking Kinyagia to social media posts inciting the public to storm and occupy State House, an act the state considers a serious threat to national security under the Protected Areas Act.
The DCI claims that the inciting content, shared on X (formerly Twitter), included a protest timetable circulated on June 19, 2025, calling for what were initially presented as peaceful commemorations for young people killed during the June 25, 2024, demonstrations near Parliament.
According to the affidavit, detectives tracked Kinyagia to his residence in Kinoo, but he was not found. His phones were reportedly switched off at the time. A search was later conducted at his locked apartment on the night of June 21, under Section 60 of the National Police Service Act, which allows warrantless searches under specific circumstances.
During the search, police allegedly recovered laptops, mobile phones, two Kenyan passports, and a COVID-19 vaccination certificate. The operation was reportedly witnessed by the building’s caretaker, Jane Njango, who informed police that Kinyagia had left earlier that day in the company of an unidentified man and two women.
The DCI also disclosed that several other individuals linked to the controversial online posts have been arrested and arraigned in court.
Despite the DCI’s denial, Kinyagia’s legal team maintains that he was abducted by state agents and is being held incommunicado, without formal charges. They argue that the state must account for his whereabouts and immediate well-being.
In court, the DCI urged Justice Chacha Mwita to dismiss the habeas corpus petition and grant investigators additional time to conclude their inquiries.
The case remains before the High Court, as public concern and calls for Kinyagia’s safe return continue to grow.
By Were Kelly
