DCI denies holding three abducted men as Kitengela commander files affidavit

Kitengela Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) commander Joseph Indeche has filed a replying affidavit at the High Court in Nairobi stating that the DCI and the Inspector General of the police are not holding three men abducted in Kitengela on August 19.

Bob Micheni Njagi, Jamil Longton and Aslam Longton were abducted by armed men on August 19 and taken away by the unidentified men.

Njagi was pulled out of a matatu and bundled into a Subaru by unknown people but Indeche said the three have never been in the custody of the DCI and IG.

The abductions of the three men were reported by their families at the Kitengela police station.

Njagi's abduction was reported to the police by his father Frank Njagi while Sally Matete and Abdul Razack reported the kidnapping of the two Longtons.

Indeche said the three, however, reported cases of missing persons stating that those who reported could not capture the full registration of the vehicles used by the people who abducted the three men.

In a reply to a petition filed by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) on behalf of the three men who are also listed as petitioners, Indeche, however, denied involvement of police in the said incidents of abductions.

"All the reports made by Sally, Abdul and Frank Njagi were that unknown men abducted the (three men) and they never mentioned that the abductions were carried out by officers of the IG or the DCI," stated the Senior Superintendent of Police.

"The petitioners (Longtons and Njagi) are not persons of interest to any investigations and hence, the office of (IG) had no reason for arresting and detaining them."

Indeche said that following the reports, a circulation signal was dispatched to all the police stations nationwide to trace the three men, adding that police are investigating cases of missing persons.

SSP Indeche said the LSK has not adduced evidence that the abductions of the three men were carried out by officers of the IG or DCI despite knowing that they are required to prove the same.

Indeche said the cases of disappearance are being treated as cases of missing persons and due process is being followed to the logical conclusion of the matter.

"We have requested call log data (for Njagi and Longtons) from the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau (CRIB) to help in the investigations," stated Indeche.

"Efforts to trace Sally Abdul and Frank Njagi to record their statements have unfortunately borne no fruits hence adversely affecting and delaying the ongoing investigations."

He said the DCI and IG should be given time to investigate the matter with guidance by the Director of the Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Indeche also faulted the LSK for going to the high court before exhausting the available avenues of launching complaints including with the Independent Policing Authority (IPOA) and the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) of the National Police Service.

Justice Lawrence Mugambi, who is hearing the matter, will decide whether the affidavit of Indeche will be admitted after the matter of contempt of court by IG is settled on September 12.