IG Kanja: All abduction, missing persons cases under active investigation by DCI special unit

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has said all reported cases of abductions and missing persons are being investigated thoroughly by a dedicated team within the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

Appearing before the National Assembly Security Committee, Kanja said he is committed to operating strictly within the law and has taken personal concern over the recent incidents, including the death of Albert Ojwang.

“When I was being vetted, I was very, very clear in my mind that I would operate within the frameworks of the law,” he said.

Kanja expressed sorrow over Ojwang’s death and the pain his family is experiencing.

“Let me also state this, I feel a lot of pain for losing that young man. I feel the pain the parents of that man feel, because I’m also a parent, and for that reason, we want those investigations done quickly,” he told MPs.

The IG said the National Police Service investigates every report of a missing person regardless of the cause.

“Every case reported to us by the National Police Service on missing persons, we investigate them with the same seal. The DCI, as we speak now, has a team specifically set aside to deal with all the cases of missing,” he said.

Kanja added that all missing cases reported across the country, even those involving self-abductions, are given equal attention. “For whatever reason, including self-abductions, they are all investigated with the same seal,” he told the committee.

According to a May report from the human rights organisation Missing Voices, at least 55 cases of enforced disappearances were reported in Kenya in 2024.

The report further states that between 2019 and 2024, over 970 Kenyans were victims of enforced disappearances or extrajudicial killings.

However, President William Ruto assured the country that all Kenyans reported missing under suspicious circumstances have been safely reunited with their families, emphasising his administration's commitment to preventing enforced disappearances.

He stated that the government had taken decisive steps to address the issue and prevent its recurrence.

“There is an accountability mechanism to ensure such situations are addressed,” said President Ruto. “I made a commitment to the country that, as a democracy, Kenya will not return to the dark days when citizens disappeared and their bodies were discovered in all manner of places. That will not happen under my administration.”

The President confirmed that all previously reported missing persons had been reunited with their families.

“All those who disappeared or were abducted have been returned to their homes. I have made it clear that nothing of that nature will happen again,” he emphasised.

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