For Daniel Mwaniki's family, Christmas of 2023 was a joyous moment his wife says will live in their memories forever except that hours later would mark the beginning of protracted pain.
Mwaniki joined his family for celebrations at their home in South Imenti village, Ngobit Ward in Laikipia after skipping several Christmas fetes.
“It was one of the best Christmas in many years for our family since during previous years, the father of my children could not join us due to his nature of work which required presence during the festive season,” says his wife, Tabitha Gathigia.
Mwaniki spoke of his investment plans, having established a butchery business at the nearby Raptor Shopping Centre a few weeks earlier after quitting his job.
Tabitha Gathigia, wife of the missing Daniel Mwaniki, at her home at South Imenti village in Laikipia county on February 12, 2025.
Photo credit: Joseph Kanyi | Nation Media Group
But the joy was short-lived. On Boxing Day at around 3pm, Mwaniki received a phone call from a friend and left in a huff, saying he was going to see him for an important matter.
The call is today the cause of agony and distress to his wife and children, who were left clinging to the memories of December 25, 2023. The 46-year-old father of four never returned, with Ms Gathigia’s hopes in the investment plans her husband shared now shattered.
The persistent phone calls that led to his disappearance came when he was supervising work at the butchery with one of his workers, Felix Mathenge, recalling how his boss had excused himself to meet the friend near Kiawara Shopping Centre.
“He appeared disturbed and at one point while speaking to the caller, walked across the road and sat on a stone. A few minutes later he left, saying his friend was waiting for him at Kiawara, about 20Km away,” Mr Mathenge said.
In September, Mwaniki resigned from his job at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, his departure marking the end of a 23-year career in security. He had risen through the ranks from a National Police Reservist to the officer in charge of security at one of the most protected wildlife sanctuaries in East Africa.
Tabitha Gathigia, wife of the missing Daniel Mwaniki, at her home at South Imenti village in Laikipia county on February 12, 2025.
Photo credit: Joseph Kanyi | Nation Media Group
Over a year since Mwaniki disappeared, his whereabouts remain a mystery. Efforts to trace him have borne no fruits with the police providing little assistance in solving the puzzle.
While detectives have remained evasive about the progress of the investigations, of great concern to the family is the mysterious caller. Did he lure Mwaniki to his captors and if yes, what action has been taken against him?
When Nation visited Ngobit Police Station where the case was first reported on December 27, 2023, Laikipia Central Sub-County Police Commander Okumu Dullo and his DCI counterpart Nixon Mbing’o could not give a satisfactory response on the issue.
“The DCI and I were only posted here recently hence at this moment we are not in a position to speak authoritatively on the progress of the investigations regarding the disappearance of Mwaniki,” Mr Dullo said.
“Several officers who were handling the matter have since been transferred but the case file is here and we shall peruse it and come back to you later,” promised Mr Dullo.
Samuel Ndung'u, brother of Daniel Mwaniki, speaking to journalists at South Imenti village in Laikipia county on February 12, 2025.
Photo credit: Joseph Kanyi | Nation Media Group
But over a week after the visit, the police commander is yet to give an update with Mr Mbing’o explaining that the lead investigator would soon be visiting Mr Mwaniki’s wife to brief her on the outcome of their investigations.
But what baffles the family is the countless times such promises have been made. Another issue the family is struggling with is how the telephone number of their missing kin was allocated to another subscriber when the case was still active.
“For now, my brother could be dead, having been killed by his abductors long ago with no possible trace of his remains. If you are not able to help us get him back, please just do us one favour; reveal to us the identity of the person who called him moments before he went missing,” Mr Samuel Kariuki, the elder brother to Mr Mwaniki pleaded with Mr Dullo, the police boss.
Mr Kariuki opines that his brother, a long-serving National Police Reservist and a security expert with experience spanning two decades could not easily fall victim to kidnappers unless lured to the criminals by a close, trusted friend.
He adds that four days after Mwaniki disappeared, he met one of his brother’s close friends in Nanyuki Town. They reportedly comforted him and told him their kin was on a merrymaking outing with other friends and that he would go back home.
“We don’t know why detectives have been reluctant to establish individuals who were in communication with my brother. Also, some people interacted with him before the phone went off at around 5pm on the day he disappeared,” says Mr Kariuki.
A distraught Ms Gathigia says she has since then led a lonely life, enduring disturbing questions from her children on the whereabouts of their father.
“School holidays have now become traumatizing moments for me when my son and daughter who are in secondary school challenge me on what I have done to help find their father. We want answers to all these questions. We want Dan dead or alive,” says Ms Gathigia amidst sobs.
