In a dramatic twist , the High Court has temporarily suspended its previous directive for Inspector General of Police Japhet Kanja and Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Mohamed Amin to personally appear in court on January 27, 2025, over their involvement in the controversial abduction cases of several young Kenyans.
The court had originally ordered Kanja and Amin, along with George Njao, Director-General of the National Youth Service (NYS), to answer questions regarding the abductions of individuals such as Billy Munyiri Mwangi, Ronny Kiplangat, Bernard Kavuli, Peter Muteti, and the still-missing Bernard Kavingo.
The disappearances have ignited public outcry, with calls for transparency and accountability from the highest levels of government and law enforcement.
However, in a ruling issued on January 22, 2025, Justice Bahati Mwamuye temporarily stayed the orders requiring the three security chiefs to appear in court, pending the outcome of a motion filed by their legal teams.
The motion, seeking to quash the earlier orders, was presented to the court on January 12, 2025.
The ruling grants the police chiefs a temporary reprieve, but they are required to serve their application to quash the orders on Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) by the end of January 22.
They must also file affidavits challenging the court’s orders by January 23, 2025.
The matter will be revisited on January 27, 2025, when the court will issue further directions.
The suspension of the orders comes at a time when public pressure is mounting for justice for the abducted individuals.
With the case at the center of both legal and political debates, the public continues to demand accountability from security agencies amidst growing concerns over human rights violations.
The police chiefs now face an uncertain futureeither appearing in court as originally ordered or facing the consequences of contempt of court, including possible imprisonment.
