High Court Orders IG Kanja and DCI Boss Amin to Produce Missing Activist Ndiangui Kinyagia

The High Court, presided over by Justice Chacha Mwita, has issued a directive for Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss Amin Mohammed to produce the missing activist and blogger Ndiangui Kinyagia in court.  

This order comes after Kinyagia, a key figure in organizing the June 25 commemorative protests, disappeared shortly before the demonstrations, with his whereabouts remaining unknown. 

Justice Mwita’s June 30 order demands that if the police fail to produce Kinyagia, both Kanja and Amin must appear in court to explain why the activist has been held for 10 days without any court appearance.  

The judge gave the Inspector General an opportunity to justify the continued detention or absence of Kinyagia from court proceedings. 

Ndiagui Kinyagia had publicly shared details of the planned protests on his social media platform, including a march to the State House and the declaration of a new republic.  

His disappearance was first reported on June 24, one day before the protests, sparking widespread concern and calls for his release from activists and human rights defenders. The hashtag and banners reading “FreeNdiaguiKinyagia” gained traction online. 

Amnesty Kenya reported that Kinyagia’s last known sighting was on June 21, two days after his social media post, when suspected DCI officers raided his home in Kinoo.  

The raid involved a convoy of six to ten Subaru vehicles, and his last communication was with his mother around 1 pm that day. Since then, security agencies including the National Police Service and the DCI have remained silent about his whereabouts. 

This case follows a pattern of concerns over enforced disappearances and abductions in Kenya, with previous court orders demanding the release or production of other abducted individuals.  

For instance, in late 2024 and early 2025, IG Kanja and DCI boss Amin faced multiple court summons for failing to produce abducted persons, with courts emphasizing the illegality of holding individuals without court appearances and warning of contempt sanctions. 

The current High Court order underscores the judiciary’s insistence on accountability and adherence to constitutional protections against unlawful detention.  

It also highlights ongoing tensions between state security agencies and civil society over enforced disappearances and the right to protest in Kenya.