Ndiang’ui Kinyagia, a 35-year-old IT specialist and blogger known as Daguin Dd on X, vanished from his home in Kariobangi on June 21 after posting a June 25 protest itinerary that allegedly drew police attention. Concern mounted when he failed to respond to a 1 pm message that day. Shortly afterward, reportedly ten unmarked Subaru vehicles arrived at his house. Neighbors said officers, believed to be from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), raided his home, confiscated laptops, phones, passports, and other documents, before leaving with the house locked behind them. Since then, the State has failed to produce him or acknowledge his detention.
DCI boss Mohamed Amin confirmed the raid, stating, “He is a person of interest to us and wherever he is, I urge that he submits himself and that he surrenders himself to the nearest police station.” However, Ndiang’ui’s family and lawyer Wahome Thuku accuse authorities of enforced disappearance. Thuku asserted, “We reasonably believe the police know where he is or are directly involved. … This disappearance without a trace is not just unlawful, it is dangerous.” Notably, Senior Counsel Paul Muite condemned the abduction as repression, warning that such tactics “will FAIL.” In addition, Amnesty International-Kenya demanded that authorities either produce Ndiang’ui alive or formally charge him.
Although the High Court ordered Inspector General Douglas Kanja and DCI Director Amin to produce him by July 1, both agencies have remained silent and failed to comply. Justice Chacha Mwita cautioned that if the appearance did not occur, the officers would face contempt charges and be summoned personally to court. Meanwhile, human-rights observers emphasize that this disappearance threatens civil liberties, undermines due process, and damages public confidence in security agencies.
Mrs. Margaret Rukwaro, his mother, described Ndiang’ui as “God-fearing, patriotic, kind-hearted, and passionate about justice.” She said the family reported him missing at both Kinoo and Kikuyu police stations, but received no official response. Under constitutional law, every citizen has a right to due process, and failure to produce a detainee amounts to arbitrary detention. As such, Ndiang’ui’s case now carries significant weight, drawing concerns over the safety of citizens engaged in peaceful discourse.
