Martha Karua has accused top police officials of treating a court order “with contempt” after they failed to explain the disappearance of blogger Ndiang’ui Kinyagia last seen being bundled into a car by masked men.
Speaking inside a packed courtroom at Milimani on Tuesday morning, Martha Karua criticised IG Kanja and Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin for not showing up in court or sending a credible response.
“They ought to be here before you,” Karua told Justice Chacha Mwita. “Nothing has been said about their blatant disobedience of the court order.”
Kinyagia vanished on 21 June from his apartment in Kinoo. Witnesses say several men in masks forced their way in and abducted him. His family filed a missing person report at Kinoo Police Station two days later but more than a week on, there’s no official word on where he is, or if he’s safe.
Justice Mwita had given the police until 11 a.m. on 2 July to either produce Kinyagia in court or give a clear explanation. So far, neither has happened.
“Even if we were to believe them that they do not have him,” Karua argued, “their job is to investigate. That’s why we pay them. That’s why they exist.”
DCI boss Mohamed Amin, in a signed affidavit, denied that Kinyagia is in police custody. He confirmed that the blogger is being investigated for allegedly inflammatory content online, but claimed officers did not find him during a recent search at his residence.
Karua dismissed the response as insufficient. “There is nothing in their statement that shows what efforts have been made to find him,” she told the court.
Justice Mwita warned that time was running out. “Ten days is a long time,” he said. “We are dealing with someone who could be in danger.”
The case has sparked outcry from rights groups. Amnesty International Kenya has condemned the silence from state agencies, while activist Boniface Mwangi called the situation “deeply worrying.”
“We fear that Kinyagia may be held incommunicado and worse, tortured,” Mwangi posted on social media.
