Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja failed to appear in court on Wednesday to address recent cases of abductions in the country.
The High Court had summoned the officials to explain the mysterious disappearance of six young men in December 2024.
Although all but one of the abductees have since been reunited with their families, concerns remain about the circumstances of their abduction.
While CS Murkomen and IG Kanja were absent, their legal representatives, Danstan Omari and Paul Nyamondi, appeared in court on their behalf.
Earlier, IG Kanja had denied any involvement of the National Police Service (NPS) in the abductions, asserting that national security agencies were not linked to the incidents.
The six youths, however, are believed to have been targeted due to their critical social media posts about President William Ruto and the government.
The victims included digital cartoonist Gideon Kibet, also known as Kibet Bull, his brother Ronny Kiplangat, and friends Billy Mwangi, Peter Muteti, Steve Mbisi, and Bernard Kavuli.
Five of the abducted youths reappeared on Monday, January 6, 2025, in various locations across the country:
- – Ronny Kiplangat, abducted in Nairobi, was found in Machakos County.
- – Bernard Kavuli, taken in Ngong, resurfaced in Kitale.
- – Kibet Bull, who disappeared on December 24, was discovered in Luanda, Vihiga County.
Despite their return, Steve Mbisi remains missing, adding to the growing concern about the safety of critics in the country.
The youths’ release coincided with planned protests by Kenyan activists, who had threatened to take to the streets to demand answers and accountability for the abductions.
The demonstrations highlight the public’s frustration with increasing threats to freedom of expression and alleged government intimidation.
