IG Kanja denies police role in disappearance of Tanzanian activist Twaha Mwaipaya

IG Kanja denies police role in disappearance of Tanzanian activist Twaha Mwaipaya

The police chief told the court he was aware of the case but maintained that security agencies had no record of Mwaipaya's arrest by any police officer.

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has denied that police officers arrested or abducted Tanzanian activist Twaha Mwaipaya, telling the High Court that the missing man has never been held in police custody.

Kanja made the declaration before Justice Alexander Muteti after personally appearing in court to respond to summons over Mwaipaya's disappearance.

The police chief told the court he was aware of the case but maintained that security agencies had no record of Mwaipaya's arrest by any police officer.

"My Lord, I'd wish to inform this court that we don't have the subject in our custody throughout the Republic of Kenya," Kanja said.

He further insisted that Mwaipaya could not have been removed from police custody when he had never been detained by officers.

"The subject was at no time arrested by my officers since he's never been in our custody; he can't have been removed by the same," he submitted.

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However, Kanja acknowledged that a report concerning the activist had been made at Ruai Police Station, adding that investigations into the matter were ongoing.

"My Lord, I'm aware that a report was made at Ruai Police Station," he told the court.

He also informed Justice Muteti that the investigating officer handling the matter was present in court.

The IG further defended the National Police Service (NPS) against accusations that officers had failed to act on reports of missing persons, saying complaints made at police stations or directly to officers are ordinarily investigated.

He strongly rejected allegations that police were involved in enforced disappearances, insisting that abductions were criminal acts that should not be tolerated.

"Not at all, we don't abduct and make people disappear," Kanja told the court. "Any abduction is to be treated as an act of criminality."

Kanja's appearance followed orders issued by Justice Muteti on October 30, 2026, directing police to produce Mwaipaya before the court, either alive or dead, on November 2.

The judge had also required authorities to present the original detention warrant and explain why the activist should not be released immediately if he was being held unlawfully.

The summons sought to compel senior police leadership to account for the activist's whereabouts amid concerns over his reported disappearance.

Mwaipaya was reportedly abducted on October 25, 2026, in Kamulu, Machakos County, under circumstances that prompted the habeas corpus proceedings.

The case is being pursued through a habeas corpus application, a legal procedure that requires authorities to account for a person believed to be unlawfully detained and, where applicable, produce them before court.