The family of Hussein Abdirahman Mohamed, a senior Wajir Huduma Centre manager and Assistant County Commissioner, has filed an urgent habeas corpus application in Kenya’s High Court, seeking to compel state authorities to produce him, dead or alive, following his mysterious disappearance on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. The case has sparked public outcry and raised concerns about the safety of public servants in Kenya.
Hussein was last seen attending an official event in Wajir alongside Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku. Photographs submitted in court show him seated among senior government officials, marking his final public appearance.
Despite a missing person report filed at Sojir Police Station on July 10, no progress has been reported, prompting the family to seek judicial intervention. Represented by lawyers Danstan Omari and Shadrack Wambui, the family alleges that state agents may have abducted Hussein and are being held incommunicado, in violation of his constitutional rights.
“This is a man who dedicated his life to public service. He had no known enemies, no personal disputes. Yet, he disappears after attending a state event,” Omari said in court documents.
The family demands that the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the Attorney General produce Hussein by July 14 or provide a complete account of his whereabouts.
On Tuesday, July 15, 2025, Justice Chacha Mwita directed the family to serve court papers on the respondents, with further directions scheduled for July 17. The court’s order underscores the urgency of the case, given Hussein’s senior role in the Huduma Centre and the county’s security committee.
“If a senior civil servant of the rank of Assistant County Commissioner can disappear just like that, who is safe now?” asked lawyer Wambui, highlighting the broader implications for public safety.
The lack of progress in the investigation has fueled speculation and frustration. A missing person report filed at Sojir Police Station has yielded no leads, and the family has requested that the case be transferred to Nairobi for a more thorough investigation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
On Monday, August 11, 2025, Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat stated that the police had no new information on Hussein’s whereabouts, urging the public to provide any relevant details.
Local leaders and human rights organizations have joined the family in demanding answers. Wagberi MCA Aden Abdi Bulle called Hussein’s disappearance “unacceptable,” emphasizing his critical role in government service delivery. “This is a government officer heading a crucial institution. The DCI, National Intelligence Service, and other agencies must act now,” Bulle said. Meanwhile, a Facebook post by Mohaaz Baharini echoed public sentiment, questioning whether Hussein is in custody or being held unlawfully.
The case has drawn comparisons to other high-profile disappearances in Kenya, raising concerns about enforced disappearances and state accountability.
Eldas MP Adan Keynan, in a Wednesday, July 30, 2025 letter to the Inspector General, criticized the lack of visible institutional response and demanded clarity on whether surveillance footage, forensic evidence, or mobile phone tracking data had been analyzed. A brief lead tracing Hussein’s phone signal to Bomet, 600 kilometers from Wajir, proved fruitless, further deepening the mystery.
Human rights advocates warn that the case could signal a troubling trend. “The silence and failure by state agencies to provide concrete information is a sign of foul play,” said a representative from a local human rights group, speaking anonymously due to safety concerns.
The family’s distress has been compounded by allegations of threats, with Hussein’s brother, Abdiwahab Mohamed, claiming in a Tuesday, July 15, 2025 affidavit that he received a chilling phone call warning him to withdraw the court application.
The case draws national attention as the High Court prepares to issue further directions. The outcome could set a precedent for how Kenya addresses enforced disappearances and the protection of public servants. For now, Hussein’s family remains in anguish, awaiting answers about his fate.