The High Court has summoned Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to appear in court on Tuesday, November 3, to explain the disappearance of Tanzanian opposition activist Twaha Mwaipaya.
The court is also seeking answers over concerns that Mwaipaya may have been irregularly repatriated to Tanzania and the progress made in investigations into his disappearance.
The latest development follows submissions by Vocal Africa, represented by lawyer Martha Karua, who asked the court to require Kanja and Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Director Mohamed Amin to appear personally and account for the activist’s whereabouts.
During proceedings on Monday, November 2, Karua argued that police had been informed of Mwaipaya’s disappearance on October 25 and should have immediately begun efforts to establish his whereabouts.
She further questioned why junior police officers had appeared in court instead of the senior officials, saying their presence was insufficient to address the concerns raised by the petitioners.
The State, through State Counsel Christopher Marwa, opposed the request, maintaining that investigations were ongoing and asking the court to allow security agencies time to submit their findings.
Mwaipaya was reportedly abducted by armed men in the Kamulu area of Nairobi on October 25 while travelling in a taxi. His whereabouts and condition have remained unknown.
The case was filed by Vocal Africa through a habeas corpus application seeking to compel authorities to establish where the activist was being held and the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.
The court proceedings are expected to provide further direction on the accountability of security agencies and efforts to trace the missing activist.
