The High Court on Tuesday ordered Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja and Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin to appear in person on July 20, 2026, to explain the whereabouts of three men who were allegedly abducted in Mathare, Nairobi.
The order came after the Inspector-General and the DCI informed the court that the three missing men were not in police custody.
The assertion sparked dramatic scenes inside the courtroom as relatives of the missing men and human rights activists protested, accusing security agencies of orchestrating enforced disappearances.
Notably, activist Julius Kamau took off his shirt and disrupted proceedings after police told the judge that the three abducted persons are not in police custody. He was then forcibly removed from court premises.
Activists and relatives of three missing men, Michael Oloo, Evans Otieno, and Macmillan Kiarie, caused drama at the Milimani High court during a habeas corpus hearing, demanding that authorities disclose the men's whereabouts.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada| Nation Media Group
Moments after the government's position was presented, activist Julius Kamau leapt from the public gallery, shouting that innocent Kenyans were being abducted, tortured and killed by security agencies.
As he removed his shirt in protest, relatives of the missing men and other activists joined in, chanting slogans and accusing the government of presiding over widespread abductions.
“Kenya has turned into another Haiti,” they shouted, as distraught mothers wept and demanded that their sons be produced in court.
Justice Alexander Muteti watched calmly as court orderlies moved in to escort Mr Kamau out of the courtroom.
The activist resisted, shouting: "I want to die here today. We cannot continue like this."
The commotion erupted shortly after State counsel Paul Nyamondi, representing the Inspector-General and the DCI, informed the court that the three missing men were not being held by the police.
Activists and relatives of three missing men, Michael Oloo, Evans Otieno, and Macmillan Kiarie, caused drama at the Milimani High court during a habeas corpus hearing, demanding that authorities disclose the men's whereabouts.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada| Nation Media Group
Lawyers representing the families, together with the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), urged the court to compel Mr Kanja and Mr Amin to personally account for the whereabouts of the missing men, who they alleged were seized by armed men travelling in black Subaru vehicles.
”I urge this court to order the Inspector-General and the Director of Criminal Investigations to attend court in person and explain who arrested the three missing persons if they were not police officers," lawyer Ian Mutiso submitted.
Mr Mutiso urged the court to take judicial notice of what he described as the resurgence of abductions carried out in a cruel and unlawful manner.
The LSK and lawyer Abner Mango argued that the court should assert its authority and hold the country's top police commanders accountable.
“The Inspector-General and the DCI should not be allowed to walk away from this matter. Kenyans want to hear directly from them about the whereabouts of these three innocent citizens," counsel submitted.
Activists and relatives of three missing men, Michael Oloo, Evans Otieno, and Macmillan Kiarie, caused drama at the Milimani High court during a habeas corpus hearing, demanding that authorities disclose the men's whereabouts.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada| Nation Media Group
Justice Muteti directed the Inspector-General and the DCI to file affidavits explaining what steps had been taken to establish the whereabouts of the missing men.
Activist Julius Kamau strip half naked before a judge at the Milimani High Court on July 14,2026, after IG/ DCI said three anducted persons are not in their custody.
Photo credit: Richard Munguti | Nation Media Group
"Now that you have calmed down, I want to assure you that this court will do justice in this matter. The shouting makes it difficult for me to follow the proceedings. I urge everyone to maintain order as the court discharges its constitutional mandate," Justice Muteti said.
The application was filed on Friday by relatives of the three missing men identified in court documents as Oloo, Otieno and Mugo who are seeking orders compelling the Inspector-General, the Director of Criminal Investigations, the Officer Commanding Buruburu Police Station and the Attorney-General to produce them in court or account for their whereabouts.
