Why did Ndiang’ui Kinyagia disappear?
Blogger and activist Ndiang’ui Kinyagia, who vanished from his Kinoo home on June 22, resurfaced on Thursday at the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi. His sudden reappearance came after weeks of concern, public outcry, and mounting suspicion that he had been abducted by state agents.
His lawyer, Wahome Thuku, explained that Kinyagia had gone into hiding after learning that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) was pursuing him over unspecified criminal allegations. “Ndiangui has indicated that he is ready and willing to present himself to the DCI and to be presented before any court of law when his safety and security are guaranteed,” Thuku said. The blogger reportedly contacted a family member from an undisclosed location on Tuesday evening.
Was Kinyagia forcibly abducted by security officers?
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) had earlier raised alarm, calling Kinyagia’s case an “enforced disappearance” based on reports from neighbors who claimed he was picked up by individuals in Subaru vehicles resembling those used by security agencies. The LSK described the situation as a possible unlawful arrest or detention.
Kinyagia, dressed in a maroon hoodie, face mask, and glasses, was visibly emotional as he reunited with family members in court. His appearance followed a court order directing the Inspector-General of Police to either produce the missing blogger or provide an explanation for his whereabouts.
However, on Monday, DCI Director Mohamed Amin denied that Kinyagia was ever in police custody. “Ndiangui is not under the custody of the National Police Service,” Amin stated, while urging him to surrender voluntarily.
What was Kinyagia accused of?
Amin confirmed that Kinyagia was linked to an X account that had shared a viral mock invitation to a protest event. The image, posted on June 19, included Kenya’s coat of arms and outlined a march to State House followed by a fictional swearing-in of a transition council. “He was a person of interest to us after he published very, very inflammatory material on social media,” Amin said.
Police reportedly searched Kinyagia’s house, confiscated electronic devices, and left without detaining anyone. Despite being summoned to court on Tuesday, both the Inspector-General and the DCI chief failed to appear. Amin eventually showed up at the court on Thursday, just moments after Kinyagia made his surprise appearance.
By Risper Akinyi
