In a tragic turn of events, two out of the three men who were abducted on December 16, 2024, in Athi River, Machakos County, have been found dead, leaving their families in anguish.

On the afternoon of Thursday, January 30, 2025, the families of Justus Mutumwa and Martin Mwau identified their bodies at the Nairobi Funeral Home (formerly City Mortuary).

However, the whereabouts of Karani Muema, the third abducted individual, remain unknown.

Where were the bodies found?

According to Justus Mutumwa’s family, the 33-year-old’s body was discovered in Ruai, Nairobi County.

Details regarding the exact location of Martin Mwau’s body remain unclear.

This grim discovery came just hours after Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Amin Mohammed appeared in court after skipping multiple summonses to address concerns over a series of abductions that many believe were orchestrated by the police.

Police deny involvement

Top officials from the National Police Service (NPS) have strongly denied any involvement in the disappearances.

On Thursday, while appearing before Justice Chacha Mwita at the Milimani Law Courts, IG Kanja told the court that the missing men were not in police custody.

“Your Honour, we have none of the subjects. I want to confirm before this court that we have none of them,” Kanja stated.

He added that once he was notified of the case, he directed the DCI to launch investigations into the whereabouts of the three men.

Investigations ongoing

DCI boss Amin confirmed that investigations are ongoing, and findings will be forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) once completed.

“I wish to confirm that the investigations are still on course, and at an appropriate time, the files will be forwarded to the ODPP,” Amin stated.

“The missing persons are not under the custody of the National Police Service. They were not arrested, and they are not under our custody,” he added.

Families demand justice

With two of the three men now confirmed dead, pressure is mounting on security and investigative agencies to Locate Karani Muema, who remains missing, conduct thorough investigations into the deaths of Justus Mutumwa and Martin Mwau, hold those responsible accountable to ensure justice for the victims and closure for their grieving families.

The mysterious disappearances and deaths have sparked public outrage, with many calling for urgent reforms in Kenya’s security sector to address cases of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.

The families of the victims continue to demand answers and justice for their loved ones.

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