High Court Summons Vehicle Owner as Key Witness in Mwenda Mbijiwe Disappearance Probe

In a significant development in the long-standing case, Justice Martin Moya of the High Court issued summons for Edward Maina Macharia, the owner of the vehicle Mwenda Mbijiwe was driving at the time of his disappearance, to appear before the court. The order came after an application by Evans Ondieki, the lawyer representing Mbijiwe's family.

Mwenda Mbijiwe, a former Kenya Air Force officer and highly trained security consultant with connections to senior government and military officials, vanished in 2021 while traveling from Nairobi to his rural home in Meru. He was last seen in the Roysambu area along Thika Super Highway.

According to details presented in court, plainclothes men believed to be police officers intercepted and seized Mbijiwe. The vehicle was impounded by authorities but was later found abandoned near Nyeri, raising further questions about the circumstances of his disappearance.

Macharia has not been requested by investigators to record a statement or provide any account regarding the seizure and impoundment of his car, despite its central role in the events. The family highlighted this gap in the investigation through an affidavit from Jane Mbijiwe, Mwenda's mother.

Jane Mbijiwe testified in court, detailing the alleged abduction and expressing frustration over the lack of progress in locating her son. She recounted instances of intimidation at her home in Meru, including after a meeting with Directorate of Criminal Investigations Director Mohamed Amin, who had promised expedited action on the matter. She also mentioned strained family relations, including with her daughter-in-law, amid the ongoing ordeal.

The family has previously taken steps to draw public and official attention to the case. Seven months after the disappearance, Mwenda's brother Nicholas Bundi undertook a symbolic trek from Meru to the DCI headquarters in Nairobi to press for answers.

Court documents included photographs showing Mbijiwe's professional engagements with prominent figures, such as former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and high-ranking Kenya Defence Forces officers, underscoring his background in security matters.

The proceedings form part of a habeas corpus application seeking clarity on Mbijiwe's whereabouts and fate.

Justice Moya directed that the summons be served on the witness, with the matter scheduled for mention on February 18, 2026, to confirm compliance and service. This step aims to compel critical testimony that could shed more light on the events surrounding the disappearance.