Produce them dead or alive, families of Kitengela trio demand

 

Today marks exactly one month since the disappearance of the Kitengela trio, allegedly in the hands of the police. 

Kenya's immediate Acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli has been sentenced to six months for defying court summons to explain their whereabouts.

The country's new Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja now takes charge in the thick of things.

But behind the headlines and the national attention this matter has attracted are real families who have known nothing but anguish and pain. The search for justice and the hope that their loved ones will resurface have remained elusive dreams.

Although still hopeful, the families of the missing men have been left in agony and now just want to know whether their sons are dead or alive.

Longton Jamil (42), his brother Aslam Longton (36), and FreeKenya Movement coordinator Bob Njagi went missing on Monday, August 19, 2024, after being forcefully abducted in Kitengela, Kajiado County.

The brothers were reported to have disappeared just a few meters from their home, while Njagi was allegedly pulled out of a bus in the Mlolongo area and bundled into a Subaru by unknown individuals.

According to Ms Salwa Mohamed, wife of Longton Jamil, their family still hopes to see their loved ones again.

In an interview with The Standard yesterday, Salwa pleaded with those who took her husband to either produce him dead or alive.

"We have waited for a whole month, and no one is telling us where our loved ones, including my husband, are, or where they were taken. I am humbly appealing to our authorities to come out clearly and tell me where my husband is," said Salwa.

Salwa, a mother of three, also appealed to President William Ruto to intervene and rescue the three men from their abductors.

"We heard our president say that he is not aware of any abductions. Let him know that our people have not yet been released," she said.

The Longton family insists that Jamil, a human rights defender, was not involved in organizing or participating in anti-government protests.

Razak Longton, Jamil's brother, expressed the family's hope that their brothers will be found alive.

"As a family, we are still hopeful that we will get our brothers back, but we are deeply concerned by the way people are being abducted in this country," said Razak.

The FreeKenya Movement has also condemned the continued targeting and abduction of human rights defenders and activists.

Secretary General Nichorus Oloo expressed his belief that the trio is still alive and called for their immediate and unconditional release.

"This is not the first time that Comrade Bob and other human rights defenders from Kitengela have had run-ins with the Kitengela police. The police, known for their heavy-handedness in dealing with protests, must respect this constitutional right," said Oloo.

He added that how Comrade Bob Njagi was abducted leaves one questioning what kind of country Kenya is becoming.

"Bob was abducted after boarding a vehicle from Nairobi CBD following a long day of supporting and showing solidarity with Jimi Wanjigi, who was later detained at Kamukunji Police Station," Oloo explained.

Aslam and Jamil Longton were taken by unidentified people in plain clothes, and the trio has not been heard from since.

On July 12, 2023, Bob Njagi participated in a peaceful protest, backed by an official notification to the Kitengela Police Station, which was met with turmoil.