The High Court has ordered the Director of Witness Protection Agency (WPA) to appear in court on Tuesday (August 18, 2026) in person to explain the status of witnesses whom the court directed they be placed under the agency.
The witnesses are relatives of victims who were allegedly abducted by police two months ago at Mathare slums.
Justice Alexander Muteti sitting at the Milimani High Court gave the order following revelations by four lawyers for the victims that they have not received any tangible information over the fate of the witnesses required to be protected.
Lawyers Abner Mango, Noordeen Khagai and Pius Oyoo told the judge they have been visiting WPA but “nothing tangible has been said about the witnesses who feared for their lives.”
Mr Mango told the judge that he has made several visits to WPA but no information has been relayed by the agency in relation to witnesses who have recorded statements or the safe homes where they could be kept.
There was no legal representation for WPA.
Due to the none-legal representation for the WPA, Justice Muteti asked Mr Mango to walk to the offices of WPA to find out whether they have placed any of the witnesses under their care/protection.
“I have been to the offices of WPA but I have got no assistance. I urge this court to summon the director WPA to appear in court to explain the position of witnesses whom the court ordered on July 20,2026 to be protected,” said Mr Mango.
As a consequence, the judge allowed the four victims’ relatives plea to have the WPA appear in court in person to explain the status of the witnesses.
“The director WPA is hereby summoned to attend court in person on Tuesday to explain the status of the witnesses supposed to be placed under protection,” ordered Justice Muteti.
Relatives of the alleged abductees- Macmillan Mugo,Abdulaziz Zizu, Michael Oloo and Evans Oloo who have recorded statements with IPOA over the abduction of their kin by hooded men have expressed fears for their lives and have therefore sought intervention of WPA.
The judge had summoned Inspector General of Police (IG) Douglas Kanja and the Director Criminal Investigations (DCI) Mohamed Amin to appear in court in person on July 20,2026 to explain the whereabouts of three persons abducted recently in Mathare Nairobi.
However, when the IG and DCI appeared in court they disclosed that “the three missing persons are not in police custody.”
Lawyer Paul Nyamondi asked the judge to allow police carry out investigations to establish the whereabouts of the four.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) plus lawyers Ian Mutiso and Mr Mango for the victims urged the judge to order the IG and DCI to attend court again to explain the whereabouts of the three missing persons arrested and bundled into black Subaru’s.
“I urge this court to order IG Douglas Kanja and the director DCI to attend court in person to explain who arrested the three missing persons if not police,” Mr Mutiso told the trial judge.
Mutiso urged the judge to take judicial notice of the return of abductions which are being executed in the most-cruel manner.
LSK and Mango prayed to the court to stamp its authority and hold the IG and DCI responsible for the missing persons.
“The IG and DCI should not be allowed to get away with this matter. Kenyans want to hear from the two where these three innocent Kenyans are,” the LSK lawyer submitted.
The judge ordered the IG and DCI to file evidence explaining the whereabouts of the three missing persons.
Relatives of the three-Oloo, Otieno and Mugo filed the case seeking orders to compel the IG, DCI, the Officer Commanding Buruburu Police Station, the Attorney General and IG Kanja to produce the suspects in court.
The abductees disappeared on June 20, 2026.
