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Post Reply: High Court Orders Kenyan Police to Produce Missing Blogger Amid Gen-Z Protest Crackdown

<blockquote><div class="quotetitle">Quote from <a class="profile-link highlight-moderator" href="https://lawguide.co.ke/understanding-law/legal-forum/profile/lawyer/">Lawyer</a> on July 1, 2025, 7:00 am</div><div id="pl-6718"  class="panel-layout" ><div id="pg-6718-0"  class="panel-grid panel-no-style" ><div id="pgc-6718-0-0"  class="panel-grid-cell"  data-weight="1" ><div id="panel-6718-0-0-0" class="so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child" data-index="0" data-style="{&quot;background_image_attachment&quot;:false,&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;,&quot;background_image_size&quot;:&quot;full&quot;,&quot;background_image_opacity&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;border_thickness&quot;:&quot;1px&quot;}" ><div
			
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	<p dir="ltr" data-pm-slice="0 0 []">On June 30, 2025, the Milimani High Court issued a stern directive to Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin, ordering them to produce blogger and activist Ndiangui Kinyagia, who has been missing since June 21, 2025. The 35-year-old IT expert and outspoken government critic, known for his X handle @DaguinDd, was allegedly abducted from his home in Kinoo, Kiambu County, following his role in mobilizing Kenyans for the June 25 Gen-Z protest anniversary. The court's ruling comes as pressure mounts on Kenyan authorities to address allegations of abductions and police brutality during recent anti-government demonstrations.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Ndiangui Kinyagia's disappearance has sparked widespread concern, particularly among Kenya's youth and human rights advocates. According to reports, Kinyagia was taken by plain-clothed officers in unmarked vehicles on June 21, 2025, after sharing a detailed timetable for the June 25 protests on social media. The timetable outlined a nationwide plan for demonstrations, including a march to State House, prayers, speeches, and moments of silence to honor those killed during the 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests. His outspoken criticism of the government and his substantial online following are believed to have made him a target.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) filed a habeas corpus petition on June 25, 2025, at the Milimani Constitutional and Human Rights Division, demanding that the authorities produce Kinyagia, dead or alive. The petition named Inspector General Kanja, DCI Director Amin, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, and the Attorney General as respondents, accusing them of violating Kinyagia's constitutional rights. LSK President Faith Odhiambo emphasized that the blogger's disappearance was a direct attack on the rule of law, stating that the organization would not relent until Kinyagia was accounted for.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Kinyagia's family reported the abduction to Kinoo Police Station on June 23, 2025, under OB Number 16/23/06/2025 at 10:40 a.m. They described how officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations surrounded Kinyagia's apartment for over nine hours, with ten unmarked Subaru vehicles allegedly involved in the operation. The family has not heard from him since, and his phone has been switched off, raising fears for his safety.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Justice Chacha Mwita, presiding over the case, ordered Inspector General Kanja to appear in court on July 1, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. to explain why Kinyagia has been held incommunicado for ten days or to produce him in court. The judge also directed the DCI to present the blogger or provide clarity on his whereabouts. The court further issued conservatory orders restraining the police and the Ministry of Interior from arresting or detaining Kinyagia without due process, emphasizing that Kenya is a nation governed by the rule of law.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The LSK argued that Kinyagia was acting within his constitutional rights when he voiced his concerns about the state of affairs in Kenya through his social media platforms. The petition highlighted that his abduction was a response to his activism, particularly his role in organizing the Gen-Z protests, which sought accountability and reform from the government. The LSK urged the court to compel the authorities to act transparently and swiftly to ensure Kinyagia's safety.</p>
<p dir="ltr">During a press briefing on June 30, 2025, DCI Director Mohamed Amin denied that Kinyagia was in police custody, stating that the blogger was a person of interest in an ongoing investigation related to the June 25 protests. Amin urged Kinyagia to present himself to the nearest police station, a statement that drew skepticism from activists and Kinyagia's family, given the circumstances of his alleged abduction. Amin confirmed that he would appear in court as required to clarify the matter.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The case has drawn significant attention, with public sentiment on platforms like X reflecting outrage over Kinyagia's disappearance and broader concerns about police conduct. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) reported that 179 individuals were arrested during the June 25 protests, with many alleging excessive force by security agencies. The protests, which marked the first anniversary of the 2024 Gen-Z demonstrations against the Finance Bill, saw widespread participation from young Kenyans demanding accountability and an end to police brutality.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The June 25, 2025, protests were part of a broader wave of youth-led demonstrations in Kenya, fueled by frustration with government policies and allegations of human rights abuses. The protests gained momentum following the death of blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody earlier in June, which sparked nationwide outrage. Rights groups reported that at least 19 people were killed during the protests, with hundreds injured, many from gunshot wounds. The KNCHR and other organizations have accused the police of using excessive force, including firing tear gas and live ammunition to disperse crowds.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has faced particular scrutiny after a video surfaced appearing to show him authorizing police to shoot protesters. This has intensified public distrust in the government’s handling of the demonstrations. Meanwhile, the police have defended their actions, claiming that some protesters engaged in criminal activities, including looting and attacks on officers. DCI Director Amin reported that 485 individuals were arrested during the protests, with 448 already charged in court for offenses ranging from murder to property destruction.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The court’s order to produce Kinyagia marks a significant moment in the ongoing struggle between Kenya’s youth and the state. The case has also highlighted the role of young advocates like Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, who represented Kinyagia in court and secured the orders against Kanja and Amin. Owino celebrated the ruling as his second legal victory, having previously secured bail for two men accused of circulating the same protest timetable. He described Kinyagia’s detention as a breach of constitutional rights and vowed to continue fighting for justice.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The LSK and other human rights organizations have called for broader investigations into abductions and disappearances linked to the protests. Since June 2024, more than 80 individuals have reportedly been abducted, with many still unaccounted for. The KNCHR has urged the government to address these violations and ensure accountability for security agencies.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Aall eyes are on Inspector General Kanja and DCI Director Amin to comply with the court’s orders. Kinyagia’s family, supported by the LSK and a growing coalition of activists, remains hopeful that he will be found alive. However, the case has underscored deeper tensions in Kenya, where the right to protest and freedom of expression are increasingly under threat. The outcome of this case could set a precedent for how the Kenyan government handles dissent and the role of security agencies in managing protests. For now, Kinyagia’s disappearance serves as a stark reminder of the risks faced by activists in Kenya and the urgent need for transparency and accountability in the face of growing unrest.</p>
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