National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah has defended the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) over the disappearance of blogger Ndiangui Kinyagia, who has since resurfaced.
Ichung’wah said a majority of Kenyans had questioned DCI Director Mohammed Amin’s claim that the agency was not holding Ndiangui.
“Last week, reports circulated all over that a young man had been abducted. The family even went to court, and DCI was directed to produce him. ,” Ichung’wah said. “DCI was clear that they had not arrested the man, but many people did not believe.”
He explained that Ndiangui later appeared in court on his own accord and confirmed he had not been kidnapped.
“DCI were clear that they were also looking for the young man. Now he has resurfaced and said he had not been abducted,” Ichung’wah went on.
Speaking at the Women’s Economic Empowerment Forum in Taita Taveta County, Ichung’wah lamented that the majority of Kenyans were quick to think that DCI was holding Ndiangui, contrary to repeated denials by the agency.
Ndiangui, who went missing on June 21, resurfaced on Thursday morning when he voluntarily presented himself to court. The court then issued an order barring police from arresting him.
His disappearance had sparked widespread concern, with his family filing a lawsuit against the state and DCI, claiming he had been abducted. On Tuesday, Justice Chacha Mwita ordered DCI Director Mohamed Amin to appear in court and explain Ndiangui’s whereabouts.
But later that evening of the same day, Ndiangui reportedly phoned the family and said he was alive and in good health. The lawyer, Kibe Mungai, informed the court about the unexpected call, easing fears over the blogger’s safety.
Ndiangui Kinyagia Reappears in Court Looking Traumatized
Kinyagia appeared in court on Thursday, and his lawyers indicated he appeared visibly “sick and traumatized” and was in no position to take meaningful participation in the hearing.
Lawyer Mungai told the court that Kinyagia had spoken to his mother, Lilian Wanjiku, the night before, assuring her he was alive. But Kibe explained that the family members and the legal team had not been able to communicate with him properly about what had happened during the time he was missing.
“Your Honour, we have him. We were looking for him, and he is finally here. But he’s not in good condition,” Kibe told the court.
Due to his client’s fragile mental and physical state, Kibe asked the judge to allow the family to have some private time with Kinyagia before proceeding. He asked the court to adjourn the matter until they had a chance to debrief him.
“I regret that I can’t be of any assistance until we have had a session with him to know what happened to him,” said the lawyer.
The lawyer also asked the court to release his client on bond and have him appear for subsequent court hearings when needed.
“We can reconvene once he has been briefed and is ready to participate.”
Court Grants Family Time with Ndiangui Kinyagia
Justice Chacha Mwita acknowledged the concerns raised and agreed that the request by the family was reasonable. He observed that Kinyagia’s appearance in court had achieved the court’s main objective – to confirm his whereabouts and safety.
“My intentions was to have him and present him to Kenyans,” Justice Mwita explained. “He is here we have him. Also it’s good to allow the family and the lawyers time to speak to him.”
Meanwhile, the Attorney General’s office, through lawyer Emmanuel Bitta, lamented that the State had not been treated fairly in the matter and requested an opportunity to respond.
The court permitted the family to take Kinyagia for medical treatment, since he was reportedly in bad health. The case will resume on July 18 to allow Kinyagia time to recover and be prepared for the next stage of the proceedings.
