CS Murkomen, IG Kanja and DCI boss Amin snub court summons in abduction case

Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen, Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja failed to appear in court on Wednesday despite being summoned to address the recent wave of abductions in the country.

The High Court had expected the four to provide explanations regarding the disappearance of six youths in December, who have since been reunited with their families.

CS Murkomen was represented by lawyer Danstan Omari, while IG Kanja’s legal representation was handled by lawyer Paul Nyamondi.

National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) Director General George Njao was also summoned but sent Registration and Licensing Manager Collins Kipkorir to appear on his behalf.

During the peak of the abductions, IG Kanja claimed that the National Police Service (NPS) was unaware of the incidents and that national security agencies were not involved.

These assertions have been met with skepticism, with Kenyans, including President William Ruto, raising questions about how security agencies could seemingly ignore such a critical situation.

The six youths, whose abductions followed social media posts critical of President Ruto and the government, include digital cartoonist Gideon Kibet, alias Kibet Bull, his brother Ronny Kiplangat, Billy Mwangi, Peter Muteti, Steve Mbisi, and Bernard Kavuli.

Five of them reappeared in various parts of the country on Monday, January 6, after their release. Kiplangat, who was abducted in Nairobi, was found in Machakos County, while Kavuli, abducted in Ngong, was discovered in Kitale.

Kibet Bull, taken in Nairobi on December 24, 2024, was located in Luanda, Vihiga County.

Steve Mbisi remains missing, with no updates on his whereabouts.

None of the released individuals have disclosed details about their ordeal or identified those responsible for their abductions.

Manyatta Member of Parliament (MP) Gitonga Mukunji, who joined Billy Mwangi’s family after his release, hinted at the severe torture the victims endured.

Mukunji revealed that a preliminary report suggested that the abductors used whipping and restricted food portions as forms of maltreatment.