Police reforms group defends blogger Ndiang'ui Kinyagia, blames DCI for forcing him into hiding

The Police Reforms Working Group has defended the reemergence of blogger Ndiang'ui Kinyagia, saying his disappearance followed an illegal police raid and reflects a broader pattern of enforced disappearances in Kenya.

Kinyagia appeared in court on Thursday dressed in a hooded maroon sweatshirt, a face mask, and dark glasses. His emotional family embraced him tearfully as he appeared visibly disoriented and shaken, staring blankly as his mother cradled him.

Kinyagia’s lawyer, Wahome Thuku, confirmed that the IT expert had been in hiding since June 20, stating that he feared for his life after learning that Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers were pursuing him over unspecified allegations.

Mixed reactions

However, the revelation that Kinyagia had been in hiding rather than in state custody sparked mixed reactions from Kenyans, many of whom criticised him for retreating into hiding while the nation feared for his safety.

But the Police Reforms Working Group faulted the conduct of officers from the DCI who stormed Kinyagia’s home in Kinoo, Kiambu County.

The group argued that officers should have issued a formal summons instead of staging a night raid that instilled fear and ultimately forced the blogger into hiding.

“The nation has remained apprehensive about his safety after a large operation of DCI officers in multiple vehicles raided his home… without a court order. Mr. Kinyagia had no known police record, yet armed DCI officers chose to besiege and then raid his home over a weekend rather than issuing a simple summons,” the group said in a statement.

Police excessive force

The Working Group linked Kinyagia’s case to recent incidents involving the police, including the 88-hour detention of software developer Rose Njeri and the death in custody of teacher Albert Ojwang. The organisation warned that rising cases of excessive force, Friday arrests, and forced disappearances had eroded public confidence in the police.

“In general, where a person is fearful and forced into hiding by police actions, ultimate responsibility still lies with the authorities,” they said.

They called for the disbandment of multi-agency units, the arrest of officers implicated in enforced disappearances, and strict adherence to constitutional provisions on arrest and detention, as laid out in Articles 49, 50, and 51.

“We urge the Service to address this trust deficit and the fear by disbanding the multi-agency units and arresting the commanders and officers involved in the cases of enforced disappearances documented by several human rights organisations,” the organisation said.

They also lauded Justice Chacha Mwita for upholding the Constitution in handling the matter, saying, “The application for habeas corpus is a critical mechanism for protecting the right to life and liberty as well as freedom from torture, cruel and inhumane punishment.”

Public opinion sharply divided

Other Topics To Read

• Headlines
• National
• Police Reforms Working Group
• Justice Chacha Mwita
• enforced disappearance
• Ndiangui Kinyagia
• Albert Ojwang. The organisation warned that rising cases of excessive force
• Friday arrests
• and forced disappearances had eroded public confidence in the police.
• Police reforms group defends blogger Ndiang'ui Kinyagia
• blames DCI for forcing him into hiding

Despite his resurfacing, public opinion remains sharply divided.

Kenyans, led by activist Boniface Mwangi, accused Kinyagia and his family of misleading the public and wasting national goodwill.

“What Ndiang'ui Kinyagia has done is wrong and criminal. An entire country was fighting for his release, and praying for his safety, thinking he was abducted, but all this time, he was in hiding! Shame on him and his family for misleading an entire nation. Kasongo Yeye!” Mwangi posted.

Mwangi further criticised the family for filing a habeas corpus petition while allegedly knowing Kinyagia’s whereabouts.

“The family of Ndiangui Kinyagia misled the @LawSocietyofKe, and had them file a habeas corpus, despite knowing he was safe and in hiding. This behaviour is shameful and inexcusable,” he said.

Several others shared the same sentiments, including one user under the X handle @StateAffairsKE who wrote:

“We stood in solidarity. We searched in hope. We cried in despair. But Ndiangui Kinyagia was never missing. He was safe, while the country mourned a lie. He turned empathy into a game, and now, the nation demands accountability. Emotional Extortion. #StopFakeAbductions!”

Traumatised

But another section of Kenyans strongly disagreed with the narrative that Kinyagia had faked his disappearance. They pointed to his traumatised state in court, with signs such as his shaved head, vacant stares, and inability to speak, as proof that he had not been in a safe hiding place.

One user replied to Mwangi’s criticism, stating, “I’ve come to realise sometimes you deliberately switch off your brain. It’s plain as day… Ndiang’ui was abducted. Now he’s back, clearly shaken, with his hair shaved, and claiming he was ‘hiding’? That’s not a return, that’s a script.”

Another X user, Chris Sambu, added, “Ndiang'ui Kinyagia looks so terrified and not like someone who has come from a safe haven. He’s uncharacteristically shaved. I hope he will account for his missing days. I know how far the State can go. I went through the wrath of the State in October last year.”

In court, Kinyagia’s other lawyer, Kibe Mungai, asked for time, citing the blogger’s mental and emotional distress.

“I request this honourable court to grant time for us to talk to him in confidence and in privacy since he still appears to be very traumatised,” Kibe said.

“Any time from next week, we request to come back so that we are able to offer help to the court.”

Responding to a journalist’s question on whether the disappearance was staged, lawyer Thuku said, “Anyone alleging staged abduction must tell us whether the DCI breaking into the house of Ndiang’ui Kianyaga was part of it.”