County assemblies threaten to shut down over missing Wajir MCA Yusuf Hussein

The County Assemblies Forum has announced that all 47 county assemblies will halt operations within the next 14 days if the government does not locate and produce missing Wajir MCA Yusuf Hussein Ahmed.

In a press briefing on Thursday, the Forum emphasised the urgency and gravity of the situation, calling for immediate action.

Elgeyo Marakwet Speaker Kiplagat Sabulei, the chairperson of the County Assemblies Forum, expressed support for Yusuf’s family, stressing that the government must act swiftly.

“We continue to pray for Yusuf and his family during this difficult moment. We urge the government to give this matter the seriousness and urgency it deserves,” he said.

Wajir County Assembly Speaker Abdille Yussuf, also speaking at the press event, voiced concerns that their colleague might be in government custody.

“As an assembly, we are convinced and confident that Yusuf is being held by the government,” he said.

Yusuf, who went missing on September 13, was reportedly abducted in Nairobi’s Makadara Constituency along Enterprise Road at 9 pm. Witnesses say he was taken by unknown individuals driving a Land Cruiser Prado, with suspicions pointing towards police involvement.

Since his disappearance, his whereabouts remain unknown, sparking public outcry and calls for government transparency and accountability.

His disappearance has also ignited calls from his family and human rights groups, who are demanding his safe return.

Last week, the High Court in Nairobi ordered the government to produce Yusuf, either dead or alive. During the court hearing, Judge Alexander Muteti reviewed concerns presented by Yusuf’s family, who believe that the government may have attempted to mislead them by placing the wrong body in Lake Yahud.

The family’s legal team pointed to DNA evidence confirming that a body recovered on September 20 from Lake Yakub in Wajir did not match Yusuf’s DNA.

Chief government pathologist Johansen Oduor verified that the DNA samples from the body failed to align with those of Yusuf.

Police are yet to issue an official statement regarding recent developments in the case of the missing MCA.

Tensions in Wajir County have been steadily rising as the search for the lawmaker continues without significant leads.

The High Court instructed the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to ensure protection for a key witness until a formal witness protection application can be filed.

Meanwhile, authorities have reportedly not yet obtained CCTV footage covering Yusuf's route from his pickup location to where he was allegedly abducted.

Senior Superintendent of Police Justus Imaana informed the court that they are also awaiting call data from telecommunications providers to determine who Yusuf was in contact with prior to his disappearance.

Yusuf’s legal team, led by lawyer Danstan Omari alongside Law Society of Kenya (LSK) advocate Hosea Manwa, criticised the delay, attributing it to lack of commitment by the authorities. They alleged that investigators have access to critical CCTV evidence but have failed to clarify it.

“The police have the capacity to investigate, but there seems to be no deliberate intention to expedite this matter,” Omari said, urging the court to intervene and compel the police to act swiftly.