Government given 24 hours to produce missing activist Davis Lichuma or face fresh protests

The government has been given 24 hours to present activist Davis Lichuma, who was reported missing during the June 25 Gen Z protests anniversary commemorations, or risk fresh protests on Tuesday, June 30, 2026.

In a press briefing held at the Mathare Ghetto Foundation on Sunday, human rights defenders and community organisers accused authorities of failing to address increasing cases of enforced disappearances targeting activists in the area.

The activists, together with families of missing persons and community members, demanded that Lichuma be produced immediately, warning that failure to do so would lead to street demonstrations.

Lichuma’s mother, Margaret Lichuma, said her son had visited her on June 24, a day before he went missing, and asked her to pray for him after acknowledging that his involvement in the protests came with risks.

“On June 25, I was told Lichuma had been arrested. Yesterday I was told to go and file a report at Pangani,” she said.

She said people who had been arrested alongside her son had already been released, leaving her worried about his whereabouts. She also disclosed that Lichuma had an existing stab wound on his abdomen, raising concerns over his health and whether he was receiving medical attention.

The meeting also highlighted the cases of other people reported missing, including Maximilian, popularly known as Maxy, who disappeared on June 20.

Neighbours said CCTV footage showed a vehicle without number plates picking him up outside his gate as he prepared to leave for work. His mother said she had spoken to him by phone shortly before he went missing.

“It has been eight days. We want our children back,” she said.

The activists also raised the case of another missing person identified only as Zizo, who was reportedly taken on June 23 by men travelling in a double-cabin vehicle near a piece of land he had recently purchased.

Human rights activist Hussein Khalid said the disappearances showed a pattern that pointed to state involvement, accusing security officers of violating the rights of activists.

“We know Davis Lichuma has been a member of the Social Justice Centre. He was taken in clear violation of his rights. We know those who took them are police,” Khalid said.

He warned that Kenya was not a police state and that officers could not operate outside the law without accountability.

During the briefing, Salim, who identified himself as a phone repair technician and an MCA aspirant in Kiamaiko, gave an account of what he described as police extortion.

He said armed men arrived at his workplace in a Tiguan vehicle, took five phones and demanded Sh100,000 while threatening his life.

Salim said he negotiated the amount down to Sh60,000, which he paid before he was released.

“They told me: even if you don’t make a mistake, we can get one. They also told me today you can have a date with City Mortuary,” he said.

He added that his life remained in danger following the incident.

Former Chief Justice David Maraga, who attended the briefing in solidarity, criticised the government over the reported disappearances, saying they reflected a failure to respect the Constitution and the law.

“We have a government that does not listen to its people, does not respect the constitution, and does not respect the law. Why should police hide their faces? Why conceal their identity?” Maraga said.

Maraga said compensation could not address deaths and disappearances linked to last year’s protests, arguing that Kenyans wanted accountability instead.

“The death of over 120 people and abductions will not go without protest. Compensation will not help. We want our children,” he said.

Community organiser Olal said cases of enforced disappearances in Mathare had increased in recent weeks, claiming that at least four people had gone missing in the area within the past month.

He accused police of changing their approach from extrajudicial killings to enforced disappearances.

“Mathare must be a safe space for everyone. We are not at peace. We are giving the police and the government 24 hours to produce Lichuma. Failure to which, this country will not be governable,” Olal said.