The Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) director Mohamed Amin finally put up an appearance in court on Thursday, January 30, after snubbing summons.

The duo had been directed to show up to answer questions about the recent spate of disappearances.

In the company of their lawyers, Kanja and Amin appeared before Justice Chacha Mwita.

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They were to give their account on the disappearance of three men hailing from Mlolongo, Machakos county, whose whereabouts remain unknown since December last year.

Kanja, who stood pensively in the dock, told the court the missing trio was not being detained in any police station but confirmed that they were safe wherever they were.

On his part, Amin told the court that the missing men were not arrested by state officers and no charges had been preferred against them.

"I wish to state that the missing persons are not under the custody of the National Police Service (NPS). They have not been arrested and they are not under our custody," said Amin.

Earlier this month, Kanja and Amin risked being jailed over contempt of court.

They had failed to show up in court despite summonses and follow-ups from December 2024.

On Wednesday, January 8, Justice Mwita ruled that there was enough evidence to show that the missing Mlolongo men had been held beyond the required constitutional limit.

In his ruling, Mwita directed Kanja and Amin to immediately release Justus Mutumwa, Karani Muema, and Stephen Kavingo.

Alternatively, the judge ordered Kanja and Mohammed to produce the bodies of the four in court on January 13.

The duo failed to show up during the first mention on December 31, 2024.

The hearing was pushed to January 8, when they were expected to appear again to explain why the previous orders were not complied with.

The police IG cited his preoccupation with other security-related duties.

In the early Wednesday session, Justice Bahati Mwamuye adjourned the proceedings to the afternoon to allow Kanja to show up.

The judge threatened to sentence Kanja over contempt of court; this was after he failed to appear yet again after the adjournment.

Earlier this month, the mother and sister of Karani, one of the missing men, journeyed from Kitui to Nairobi to plead with the court to intervene.

Karani's mother expressed her heartfelt pain as she pleaded with the government to help her locate her son.

Seeming hopeless, the elderly woman pleaded with President William Ruto to intervene and help her reunite with her missing child.

Source: TUKO.co.ke