Anyone who thought that the Douglas Kanja-led police service is off the hook should seek forgiveness, following the emergence of reports that a family in Wajir has moved to court over the mysterious disappearance of Assistant County Commissioner Hussein Abdirahman Mohamed.
Hussein, who also serves as a Huduma Centre manager in Wajir, went missing on Tuesday, July 8, shortly after attending an official function. Days later, with no communication or leads, his family filed a petition demanding the State produce him dead or alive.
The application, filed under a certificate of urgency at the High Court, seeks to compel Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, Attorney General Justin Muturi, and the Director of Public Prosecutions to present Hussein or give a credible update on his whereabouts.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja addressing security officers on Friday November 8, 2024. Photo: The Star Source: X
“This is a man who dedicated his life to public service. He had no known enemies. One moment he was with fellow officials, and the next, he vanished,” the family’s lawyer Danstan Omari stated in the petition.
Accompanied by photographic evidence showing Hussein seated among dignitaries in what was his last public appearance, the petition paints a troubling picture of state negligence and possible complicity. The family says there is reason to believe he is being held incommunicado, a practice linked to past cases of enforced disappearances.
The silence from authorities, five days after a report was filed at Sojir Police Station, has fueled growing suspicion and public concern. Hussein’s case mirrors that of blogger Ndiangui Kinyagia, who went missing earlier this year, sparking a national outcry before resurfacing claiming he went into hiding over threats to his life.
While Justice Chacha Mwita has already issued preliminary orders for the police leadership to appear and explain the situation, the lack of cooperation has reignited scrutiny over the conduct of Kenya’s security forces.
The family warns that if the state fails to produce Hussein, it will deepen the already existing distrust in institutions meant to uphold justice and protect citizens. The matter is now set to test not just the court system, but the very accountability of the national police.
