The High Court on Monday heard fresh testimony alleging that one of the three men who disappeared ahead of the Gen Z anniversary protests was handcuffed and taken away by men who identified themselves as police officers, as families renewed pleas for the court to compel security agencies to account for their loved ones.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Mohamed Amin appeared before Justice Alexander Muteti at the Milimani Law Courts in compliance with court summons, but neither produced the three missing men nor explained their whereabouts. The two senior security officials were later excused without giving evidence.
“This court notes that you have honoured the summons to attend court as directed. You are hereby discharged. If this court requires you, you will be informed,” Justice Muteti said.
The court instead proceeded to hear evidence from relatives of Michael Oloo, Macmillan Kiarie Mugo, and Evans Otieno Omondi, who disappeared in separate incidents across Nairobi in the days leading up to the June protests.
The most emotional testimony came from Oloo’s second wife, Rose Adhiambo Api, who told the court that her husband left their Umoja home on the morning of June 19 after receiving a phone call and never returned.
Rose said she later learnt from investigators that CCTV footage from a barber’s shop allegedly showed Oloo being handcuffed by three men in civilian clothing who identified themselves as police officers before forcing him into a waiting vehicle. She testified that detectives had since traced the vehicle allegedly used in the incident but had not provided any further updates.
Fighting back tears, she urged the court to compel police to produce her husband.
Evans Otieno’s mother, Pamela Aloo, also gave an emotional account of her son’s disappearance, saying she was informed by his pregnant girlfriend that he had stepped aside to answer a phone call before unknown men allegedly forced him onto motorcycles. His motorcycle was later recovered at Ruai Police Station.
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She told the court that she searched police stations, hospitals, and mortuaries, including Thika Level 5 Hospital and Nairobi Funeral Home, without success.
“We visited Thika Level 5 Hospital and were shown about 50 unidentified bodies, but my son was not among them,” she said.
Pamela maintained that her son had never been arrested or charged with any offence and appealed to the court for help.
“I believe the police know where he is, and I want the court to compel them to release him,” she said.
The parents of Macmillan Kiarie Mugo also testified that their son disappeared on June 20 near Kizito in Mwihoko after his phone suddenly went off. His father, Stephen Mugo, said an eyewitness reported seeing three men force a young man into an unmarked black Toyota double-cab.
He added that detectives later attempted to search his son’s house and seize a laptop and diary but were stopped after the family’s lawyer demanded a court-issued search warrant.
His mother, Beatrice Wanjira Gatimu, described her son as a community leader who ran a local football team and a feeding programme for vulnerable children.
“As a mother, I have cried enough. Today marks one month since my son disappeared. I believe the police know where our children are, and I ask this court to help us,” she said.
During the proceedings, State counsel Paul Nyamodi sought leave to file affidavits explaining the absence of the three men, while lawyer Abner Mango asked the court to admit CCTV footage allegedly capturing Oloo’s alleged abduction and to summon three eyewitnesses.
Nyamodi opposed the application, arguing that doing so could prejudice ongoing investigations.
Justice Muteti is expected to rule on Thursday on whether the CCTV footage and additional witnesses will be admitted before determining whether Inspector General Kanja and DCI Director Amin should be recalled to testify on the whereabouts of the missing men.
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