
DCI Boss, IG Kanja Snub Third Court Summons Over Abductions
Inspector General Douglas Kanja and Directorate of Criminal Investigations boss Mohammed Amin have avoided yet another court appearance.
This action looks to be a blatant contempt for the rule of law and Kenya’s Constitution.
The two were supposed to appear before Justice Chacha Mwita at the High Court in Nairobi on Monday morning to answer questions about the whereabouts of four people abducted in Kitengela.
The four Kenyans include; Stephen Mbisi Kavingu, Martin Nyukwa Mwau, Kalani Mwema, and Justice Mutumwa, have been missing for about a month after they were taken on December 16 and 17 of last year at different sites on the outskirts of Nairobi.
High Court Judge Chacha Mwita has given IG Douglas Kanja and DCI boss Mohamed Amin a last chance to immediately release four men who went missing in Mlolongo in December last year.#starkenyanews pic.twitter.com/xuEPGxNjK3
— TheStarKenya (@TheStarKenya) January 13, 2025
The two police chiefs were scheduled to appear before Justice Mwita in response to an earlier petition filed by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) seeking an order directing them to produce the four individuals in court.
“That in the alternative, an order of habeas corpus is hereby issued directing the Inspector General of Police and the Director of Criminal Investigations to personally produce the bodies of Justus Mutumwa, Martin Mwau, Karani Muema, and Stephen Kavingo before this court on January 13, 2025, at 10 am,” Justice Mwita ruled.
Following LSK’s petition, Justice Mwita ordered the couple to secure the release of the four, stating that their ongoing imprisonment violated the law.
“This matter, coming up for directions on the Notice of Motion and petition both dated 8th January 2025 before Honourable Justice E.C. Mwita and upon reading the pleadings and supporting documents, it is clear that the subjects who were arrested on 16th and 17th December 2024 have been held beyond the constitutional limit,” he added.
“Any continued holding of the four subjects is a violation of the constitution, the supreme law of the land, and is unmitigable.”
“That a conservatory order is hereby issued directing the Inspector General of Police and the Director of Criminal Investigations, in their official and personal capacities, to immediately and unconditionally release Justus Mutumwa, Martin Mwau, Karani Muema, and Stephen Kavingo.”
As a result, Justice Mwita has ordered Kanja and Amin to appear in court in person on Friday, 17 at 10 a.m. without fail.
On January 8, the reportedly ‘defiant duo’ of Kanja and Amin refused to appear before Justice Bahati Mwamuye of the same court division to answer questions about the abduction of seven people in a case filed by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), among others.
In his verdict, Justice Mwamuye asked the two to appear at the next hearing on January 27, warning that failing to do so would result in incarceration.
“If the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, misses the third hearing, I will have no option but to cite, convict, and sentence him on the spot,” ordered Justice Mwamuye.
ALSO READ:
- IG Kanja Issues Way Forward After 3 Officers Ambushed Taking Bribe in Nairobi CBD
- Ruto Says Kenya Ready to Host Second Africa Climate Summit If Other Countries Pass on It
- Mahmoud Ali Youssouf Thanks Ruto After Winning AUC Chairperson Seat
- Kenya Has Unfinished Business With You – Gachagua to Raila After Losing AU Seat
- Baringo Senator William Cheptumo Dies After Short Illness
Kanja and Amin have been having problems appearing in court; this month, Justice Diana Kavedza ordered them to present six suspects who were abducted in December 2024.
The orders specified that the victims be brought before the court on December 31, 2024, however, this did not occur.
The case was then referred to Justice Mwamuye, who directed the two to appear in court today and explain why they should not be punished in contempt for failing to comply with the instructions.
However, the two failed to appear, therefore Kanja’s attorney asked a 14-day extension to provide their responses.
DCI Boss, IG Kanja Snub Third Court Summons Over Abductions