By Peter John
The High Court has sharply criticised the Inspector General of Police and the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for failing to personally appear in court to account for the whereabouts of Mbijiwe, who disappeared nearly four years ago.
Justice Martin Muya expressed strong displeasure over the absence of the two senior security officials, noting that their non-appearance undermined the seriousness of the matter and delayed justice for the missing person’s family.
The judge stressed that the court had expected direct explanations from the heads of the police service and the DCI, given the prolonged and unresolved nature of the case.
In his ruling, Justice Muya dismissed attempts to raise procedural objections relating to missing person reports, stating that such technical disputes could not be used to avoid the core issue of accountability.
He emphasized that the court’s primary concern was to establish what efforts, if any, had been made to trace Mbijiwe and why those efforts had not yielded results after such a long period.
The court further urged full cooperation from all security agencies involved, warning that continued delays and evasions would not be tolerated.
Justice Muya underscored that enforced disappearances and unexplained absences strike at the heart of the rule of law and public confidence in state institutions.
The matter has been scheduled for further directions on January 23, as the court intensifies pressure on the police leadership to provide clear answers.
