The High Court of Kenya has ordered Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to appear before it to explain the whereabouts of Tanzanian activist Twaha Mwaipaya, who has been missing for over a week. Justice Alexander Muteti issued the summons on November 2, expressing concern over the State's failure to account for Mwaipaya or establish whether he had been secretly removed from Kenya and repatriated to Tanzania.
Mwaipaya was reported missing on October 25, 2026, after he was allegedly forcibly taken away by unknown individuals. His disappearance triggered a court case in which lawyers sought orders compelling police to disclose his whereabouts and produce him before the court. However, the State informed the court that Mwaipaya was neither in the custody of the Inspector General of Police nor that of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
Justice Muteti observed that Kanja, as the head of the National Police Service (NPS), was best placed to clarify whether police officers or other State agents were involved in Mwaipaya's disappearance. The judge added that the State ought to have filed an affidavit in this matter, considering its gravity, and that the Attorney General should lend unqualified support to the court on matters touching on the liberty of foreign nationals.
Senior Counsel Martha Karua, who appeared in court on behalf of Vocal Africa, argued that police had been notified about Mwaipaya's disappearance on October 25 but had failed to act with the urgency the matter demanded. Karua questioned why the State maintained that investigations only began on October 26, despite police having received an earlier notification.
Karua further dismissed the appearance of senior representatives from the NPS and DCI as insufficient, insisting that the heads of the two agencies should personally account for the missing Tanzanian national. State Counsel Marwa, who represented the Inspector General and the DCI Director, opposed the application, arguing that investigations were still underway and that Mwaipaya was not being held by either of the two agencies.
Following the court's directive, Kanja is expected to appear before Justice Muteti on November 3, to respond to questions surrounding Mwaipaya's disappearance and clarify whether State agents played any role in his alleged abduction or removal from Kenya. The case has raised concerns about the management of the country's image on the international stage and the need for the State to account for the disappearance of a foreign national.
The disappearance of Twaha Mwaipaya has sparked a diplomatic row between Kenya and Tanzania, with many questioning the role of Kenyan authorities in the activist's disappearance. The case is ongoing, and Kanja's appearance in court is expected to shed more light on the circumstances surrounding Mwaipaya's disappearance.
Key points
- The High Court of Kenya has summoned Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to explain the disappearance of Tanzanian activist Twaha Mwaipaya.
- Mwaipaya was reported missing on October 25, 2026, after being allegedly forcibly taken away by unknown individuals.
- The case has raised concerns about the management of Kenya's image on the international stage and the need for the State to account for the disappearance of a foreign national.
