A Kenyan court has issued a restraining order barring the arrest or detention of missing blogger Ndiangui Kinyagia until further notice. The order comes amid growing concern over his alleged enforced disappearance following a raid at his home last month.
Highlights:
- Court orders police not to arrest or detain blogger Ndiangui Kinyagia.
- Kinyagia went missing on June 21 after a DCI-led raid at his home.
- Inspector General and DCI boss ordered to appear in court.
- DCI denies arrest but labels Kinyagia a “person of interest”.
- Case raises alarm over civil rights and state accountability.
Main Story:
In a significant legal move, the High Court has restrained the police from arresting or detaining blogger Ndiangui Kinyagia. The order, issued by Justice Chacha Mwita, remains in effect until the matter is fully heard and determined. This development follows a habeas corpus petition filed by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), demanding state accountability in the case of Kinyagia’s disappearance.
Kinyagia, known for his outspoken social media posts, reportedly went missing on June 21 after about ten plain-clothed officers raided his home in Kinoo. While the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) admitted to seizing items including laptops, phones, and passports, they denied arresting or detaining him.
In a statement, the DCI distanced itself from his disappearance but branded Kinyagia a “person of interest” in connection to online posts urging citizens to occupy State House. The agency claimed that such statements threatened national security and breached the Protected Areas Act, calling on the blogger to surrender to authorities.
The court has now summoned both Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and DCI Director Mohamed Amin to appear in person and explain Kinyagia’s whereabouts. The judge ordered them to either produce Kinyagia—“dead or alive”—or give a full account of his status. The next hearing is set for July 3.
LSK lawyers argue that Kinyagia’s case reflects a troubling trend of enforced disappearances and state intimidation of dissenting voices. The restraining order now stands as a temporary safeguard amid rising public pressure for answers and justice.
As the legal battle unfolds, the fate of Ndiangui Kinyagia hangs in the balance—testing Kenya’s commitment to justice, transparency, and the rule of law.
