The family of Halima Ngache, popularly known as Princess Halima, has appealed to the government to reveal her whereabouts after she was arrested in Mombasa over allegations linked to the improper use of social media. The family says they have been unable to locate her despite searching at several police stations.
Her husband, Saddam, said Halima was arrested at their home in the Kazandani area of Bamburi on Monday by men who initially did not identify themselves.
"They knocked on the door while I was preparing to take a shower. When I opened it, three men entered the house without introducing themselves. They showed me Halima's photograph, and I asked them what she had done. They told her to get dressed and leave with them," he said.
Saddam said the officers confiscated Halima's mobile phone, his own phone, which was charging at the time, as well as tablets and laptops found in the house before leaving with her.
"They left our child at the doorstep and drove away. I asked them where they were taking Halima and they told me to follow them to Central Police Station. We hired a motorcycle and tried to follow their white Subaru, but we lost sight of it," he said.
According to Saddam, the family searched for Halima at Central Police Station, Urban Police Station, Bamburi Police Station, Nyali Police Station and Mjambere Police Station, but officers at each station told them she was not being held there.
"It was only later that I saw online reports claiming she had been arrested over an issue touching on national security. Up to now, we do not know where she is. If she has committed any offence, let us be told where she is so that we can see her," Saddam said.
He described Halima as a stay-at-home mother who primarily created food-related content online and only occasionally commented on social media issues.
"She mostly posts about food. At one point, she was selling biryani online. Sometimes she would comment on posts like many other people. Even if she has committed an offence, I appeal to the authorities to tell us where she is. We need a system where, if somebody has been taken into custody, the family can track that person," he added.
Halima's cousin, Rukia Mwadilo, also appealed to the government to disclose her whereabouts.
"We learnt about Halima's arrest yesterday. She is my cousin, and we respectfully appeal to the government to tell us where she is," she said.
Human rights activist Walid Sketty of Vocal Africa questioned the legality of Halima's continued detention, saying the family had not been provided with any official documentation relating to her arrest.
"She has not been presented at any police station. The family has not been given an Occurrence Book number. She has not been presented before any court within Mombasa County, and she has not been allowed to access her family. This is a clear violation of the Bill of Rights and the Constitution," he said.
On Tuesday, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) confirmed Halima's arrest through its official social media platforms.
The DCI said detectives arrested Halima during an intelligence-led operation in the Kazandani area after investigations allegedly linked her to an X account used to publish sensitive information relating to the movements of protected persons.
The agency said the alleged actions were being investigated as a potential threat to national security and confirmed that Halima was in custody, undergoing processing pending arraignment.
The DCI also reminded the public that although the Constitution guarantees freedom of expression, the right must be exercised responsibly and within the law. It urged Kenyans not to share information that could compromise the safety of protected persons or threaten national security.
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