Amnesty International has issued a string of fresh demands to the government after the bodies of two individuals who went missing in December 2024 were identified at a mortuary in Nairobi.
Justus Mutumwa’s body was discovered at the Nairobi Funeral Home, former City Mortuary, on Thursday, with his family being informed the deceased was picked up in Ruai and taken to the funeral home on December 18, two days after he was reported missing.
Another one of the ‘Mlolongo Four’, Martin Mwau, was also confirmed to have passed away under mysterious circumstances after going missing in December.
In a statement on Friday, Amnesty expressed shock at the discovery of the bodies as they called on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to investigate the circumstances that led to the deaths of the two individuals.
Nairobi City mortuary
File
Two of the Mlolongo four, Steven Mbisi and Kalani Mwema, are still missing, with their fates unknown as of January 31st, 2025.
“We call upon the Independent Policing Oversight Authority to thoroughly investigate their abduction and killing and bring perpetrators to justice.,” Amnesty said in a statement.
“We urge the Directorate of Criminal Investigations as instructed by the court to urgently, effectively, impartially, and transparently investigate the abductions of Steven Mbisi and Kalani Mwema and ensure their safe return to their families,” their statement added.
Amnesty also faulted Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and the Director of Criminal Investigations boss Mohammed Amin, who said before Justice Chacha Mwita at the Milimani Law Courts on 30 January 2025 that neither of the missing abductees were being held at a police station.
“We remain concerned by admissions under oath by the Inspector General of Police and the Director of Criminal Investigations on 30 January 2025, that they did not have any knowledge of where Justus Mtumwa and Martin Mwau were despite the two men’s bodies were delivered to the Nairobi Funeral Home by officers from Ruai Police Station. We call on those who continue to threaten and harass some of the former abductees to stop,” Amnesty’s statement added.
The lobby group further claimed that since abductions began, 63 individuals have been killed, while 89 have disappeared, and 29 people are still believed to be missing.
Amnesty’s statement followed a similar scathing take from Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi, who openly challenged President William Ruto to put an end to the abduction menace in the country.
Muturi, despite working under Ruto’s cabinet, boldly criticised the government for failing to protect its people, as he accused the National Police service of complacency. The CS called on the formation of a Public Commission of Inquiry into the root cause of the auctions and subsequent killings.
An image of CS Justin Muturi on Tuesday, January 14, 2025. PHOTO/ Courtesy.