The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has restated that it did not arrest the missing Kinoo-based blogger Ndiangui Kinyagia and does not hold him in its custody. During a court appearance on Tuesday, July 1, legal counsel for the DCI affirmed that the agency had no knowledge of Kinyagia’s whereabouts and was not responsible for his disappearance.
In proceedings before Justice Chacha Mwita, the DCI’s legal representative acknowledged that the agency had failed to fully comply with a court order issued on June 30, which required them to produce Kinyagia in court. The lawyer stated that while the DCI had complied with most of the court’s directives, they had not fulfilled the order requiring the physical production of the missing blogger.
He informed the court that a sworn affidavit had been submitted detailing the events surrounding Kinyagia’s disappearance. According to the affidavit, DCI officers had not arrested Kinyagia, and the agency was equally concerned about his disappearance. The lawyer emphasized that there was no evidence linking the DCI to Kinyagia’s apprehension and insisted that claims implicating the agency were unsubstantiated.
Further, the court heard that the petitioner’s legal team had failed to present credible evidence demonstrating that DCI officers were involved in the blogger’s disappearance. The DCI’s lawyer cited Section 107 of the Evidence Act, stating that the burden of proof lay with the petitioners, and that without concrete evidence showing that the agency took Kinyagia into custody, the court should not draw such conclusions.
Additionally, the DCI requested more time to assist in tracing the missing blogger. The legal counsel asked the court to allow the agency seven more days to continue its efforts in locating Kinyagia, arguing that the DCI was actively involved in investigating the case and was determined to resolve it.
According to the affidavit presented in court, Kinyagia had been under investigation for his suspected involvement in the nationwide demonstrations that occurred on June 25. The DCI stated that they had visited Kinyagia’s residence in connection with these investigations. However, by the time the officers arrived, Kinyagia was reportedly no longer at the premises.
The affidavit also notes that the apartment’s caretaker claimed the blogger had left the building earlier in the day, accompanied by two unidentified women. The court was told that this was the last known information about Kinyagia’s whereabouts.
The matter remains under investigation as pressure mounts on authorities to clarify the circumstances surrounding the blogger’s disappearance.
