Why police must produce missing man

Mathare residents staged a protest demanding the whereabouts of Maxwell Kiarie (“Maxi”) and Abdulaziz “Zizou” Molu, who were abducted under unclear circumstances. The demonstrators paralyzed the movement of traffic at a section of Outering Road and Juja road on June 30, 2026. [Kanyiri Wahito, Standard]  

As the country grapples with a fresh wave of alleged abductions, a family is mourning a relative who was shot dead during demonstrations calling for the release of two protesters reported missing, as pressure mounts on police to account for their whereabouts.

The protester was fatally shot along Outering Road in Nairobi on Monday.

The victim was reportedly a businessman at the nearby Kiamaiko market.

“He was shot in the head and was found lying by the roadside along Outering Road. Two other people were also shot, sustaining gunshot wounds to the arm and chest,” said Wanjira Wanjiru, a human rights defender in the area.

It is alleged that Maxwell Kiarie and Abdulaziz Molu, popularly known as Zizou, were abducted three days apart in separate incidents by people believed to be security officers.

Their families have been appealing to authorities since last week to reveal where they are, release them if they are in custody or bring them before a court, but their pleas have gone unanswered, prompting the protests.

For the second week in a row, irate residents of Mathare took to the streets on Monday in solidarity with the families of the two missing men, demanding their release. Demonstrators barricaded sections of Juja Road and Outering Road, disrupting traffic for several hours and forcing motorists to seek alternative routes. By evening, one person had been confirmed dead following clashes between police and protesters.

On Tuesday, the High Court ordered Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to produce Abdulaziz in court, dead or alive, or explain his whereabouts following claims that he was abducted by security officers more than a week ago.

Justice Alexander Muasya Muteti of the Milimani High Court issued the orders after certifying as urgent a habeas corpus application filed by Abdulaziz’s family through Embakasi East MP Babu Owino.

According to the certificate of urgency accompanying the application, Abdulaziz was allegedly abducted on June 23 at about 7.30 pm along Juja Farm Road near the railway crossing in Kiambu County.

The application names the Inspector General of Police, the Kiambu County Criminal Investigations Officer and the Juja Sub-County Criminal Investigations Officer as respondents, accusing them of failing to account for his whereabouts despite repeated inquiries.

Beatrice Wanjira mother of Maxwell Kiarie participates in protests demanding the whereabouts of Maxwell Kiarie (“Maxi”) and Abdulaziz “Zizou” Molu, who were abducted under unclear circumstances. [Kanyiri Wahito, Standard]  

The court further directed the respondents to explain why Abdulaziz has neither been released nor presented before a court if he is indeed in police custody.

Justice Muteti warned that failure to comply with the orders would attract legal consequences. He also directed the respondents to file and serve their responses before the matter comes up for mention.

Residents describe Kiarie as a youth leader and a champion of several community groups in the informal settlement. He was allegedly picked up by unknown men in Mwihoko, Githurai, on June 20 while heading home to Mathare.

His mother, Beatrice Wanjira, who lives in Mathare’s Hospital Ward, said she has not slept properly in the 10 days since his disappearance, clinging to the hope that he is still alive.

“He was taken by unknown men, and all our efforts to trace him at nearby police stations have been futile. Up to now, we do not know why he was taken,” she said.

“Our plea to the police is to produce him wherever he is being held because he has a young family. He is the father of a two-year-old child. We are simply asking that he be brought back or told what crime he is alleged to have committed,” she added.

Residents describe Abdulaziz as a generous man who has supported the community for many years. Police, however, claim he  has been on their radar for several months in the wider Mathare area.

In 2024, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations posted his photograph on its social media platforms, linking him to firearms allegedly stolen from a police officer.

His brother, Ramadhan Duba, said Abdulaziz was allegedly arrested on June 23 at Juja Farm while travelling to Mathare with other people.

Police officers fire teargas canisters at Mathare residents who protested demanding the whereabouts of Maxwell Kiarie (“Maxi”) and Abdulaziz “Zizou” Molu, who were abducted under unclear circumstances. [Kanyiri Wahito, Standard]  

“They were stopped and ordered to lie on the ground. My brother was then taken away and we have not seen him since. Our appeal is that my brother be produced. We will accept whatever the outcome is because we have been searching for him in vain,” he said.

Meanwhile, the government has dismissed claims linking it to the recent disappearances of activists.

Speaking on Tuesday during an induction programme for newly appointed Deputy County Commissioners at the Kenya School of Government, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo defended the police, saying enforced disappearances are not part of their security policy.

He challenged those making the allegations to provide evidence to aid investigations, while insisting such cases were more common under the previous administration.

“The issue of abductions is a thing of the past. In fact, it was under the previous administration that we experienced cases of people being abducted. Some were later found in rivers and other places. Since we took over leadership, President William Ruto has been very clear that such incidents will not happen under his administration.

“Recently, we have had peaceful demonstrations. Those who wanted to demonstrate had the opportunity to do so, while those who wanted to continue with their normal activities did so. Those arrested by the police were taken to court,” said Dr Omollo.

Additional reporting by Okumu Modachi