The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has denied holding blogger and activist Ndiangui Kinyagia, who was allegedly abducted from his home in Kinoo, Kiambu County, on June 22.

His whereabouts remain unknown, even as the High Court has ordered the Inspector-General of Police to produce him in court or explain his disappearance.

During a press briefing in Nairobi on Monday afternoon, DCI Director Mohammed Amin said the blogger is not in police custody but is wanted for questioning. “Ndiangui is not under the custody of the National Police Service.

He is a person of interest to us and wherever he is, I would urge that he submits and surrenders himself to the DCI,” Amin said.

The DCI chief confirmed that Kinyagia was linked to a post on X (formerly Twitter) featuring a viral mock invitation to a protest held last Wednesday, which marked one year since the deadly demonstrations against the Finance Bill.

The post included the national coat of arms and an itinerary listing events such as a march to State House and the swearing-in of a so-called transition council.

“He was a person of interest to us after he published very, very inflammatory material on social media,” Amin said. He also stated that officers only searched Kinyagia’s home and left, having seized devices relevant to their investigations.

“We managed to recover an assortment of electronic gadgets we believed would be useful to us in our investigations,” he added.

Earlier on Monday, Justice Chacha Mwita directed Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja to produce Kinyagia in court or provide a convincing explanation by 11 am, Tuesday.

“We don’t have him; that is what I am going to say to the judge tomorrow. He should surrender to assist in our investigations,” Amin stated.

The Law Society of Kenya, which has been following the case closely, insists Kinyagia’s disappearance resembles a forced abduction by state agents.

The LSK views it as a grave violation of constitutional rights and a direct attack on the rule of law in Kenya. We are demanding immediate and transparent action from the authorities,” the lawyers' body said last week.

Neighbours told LSK that Kinyagia was picked up in broad daylight from his residence by men believed to be security officers driving Subaru vehicles. The organisation has described the act as an enforced disappearance and a possible unlawful arrest or detention.