DCI Denies Custody of Missing Blogger Ndiangui Kinyagia, Urges Surrender Amid Public Outcry

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has publicly denied holding 31-year-old blogger and IT expert Ndiangui Kinyagia, who has been missing for 10 days following a controversial police raid on his Kinoo residence.

The statement, made by DCI Director Mohamed Amin during a press briefing on Monday, comes as the High Court intensifies pressure on authorities to produce the activist or explain his whereabouts amid growing concerns of enforced disappearance.

Kinyagia, known online as Daguin Dd, vanished on June 21, 2025, shortly after sharing a provocative “timetable” for the June 25 anti-government protests on his X account.

The post, which included a mock invitation featuring Kenya’s coat of arms and outlined plans for a march to State House and a symbolic “swearing-in” of a transition council, was flagged by the DCI as inflammatory content.

This sparked a raid on Kinyagia’s home, where officers reportedly spent over nine hours confiscating laptops, phones, and other electronic devices.

An inventory of the seized items was countersigned by the apartment caretaker, but Kinyagia was not present during the operation, according to Amin.

“Ndiangui Kinyagia is not under the custody of the National Police Service,” Amin stated, emphasizing that the search was lawful and based on preliminary investigations linking Kinyagia’s social media account to the contentious posts.

“He is a person of interest to us, and wherever he is, I urge that he surrenders to the nearest police station to assist with ongoing investigations.”

The DCI’s denial has done little to quell public outrage or the concerns of Kinyagia’s family, who have had no contact with him since his last communication with his mother, Margaret Wamaitha, on the morning of June 21.

In an emotional plea, Wamaitha recounted their final conversation and expressed hope that the DCI would return her son.

His sister, Njeri Kinyagia, detailed how officers negotiated with the caretaker for hours before forcibly entering the residence.

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK), led by President Faith Odhiambo, has taken legal action, filing a habeas corpus petition at the Milimani Constitutional and Human Rights Division to compel the state to produce Kinyagia.

On June 30, Justice Chacha Mwita ordered Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and DCI Director Amin to either present Kinyagia in court or provide a satisfactory explanation for his disappearance by Tuesday, July 1.

The LSK argues that Kinyagia’s activism, including his vocal criticism of the government, was within constitutional bounds, and his disappearance represents a direct attack on Kenya’s rule of law.

Amnesty International Kenya and other human rights groups have joined the chorus, labeling Kinyagia’s case a potential enforced disappearance and warning of a shrinking civic space in Kenya.

The hashtag #WhereIsNdianguiKinyagia has gained significant traction on X, with users amplifying calls for accountability.

Amnesty has demanded Kinyagia’s immediate release, attributing his abduction to DCI officers, though the agency maintains it has no knowledge of his whereabouts.

The case has reignited concerns about a surge in enforced disappearances in Kenya, with a Missing Voices report noting a 450% increase in such incidents in 2024 compared to the previous year.

The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) has also called for an independent inquiry into Kinyagia’s disappearance and the broader use of state violence against activists.

As the nation awaits the court’s deadline, Kinyagia’s fate remains uncertain.

His family, supported by civil society and a growing online movement, continues to demand answers, while the DCI’s call for him to surrender has been met with skepticism.

The case underscores the escalating tensions between Kenya’s security apparatus and its vocal youth, particularly those leveraging digital platforms to challenge the status quo.