The High Court has summoned the Director of Criminal Investigations, Mohamed Amin, to appear in person this Thursday to account for the whereabouts of blogger Ndiang’ui Kinyagia, who was reported missing last week after a raid at his home allegedly linked to DCI officers.

Justice Chacha Mwita issued the directive after noting that the DCI had failed to comply with an earlier court order to produce the activist dead or alive. Amin is expected in court at 11 am.

The judge emphasized that lawyers representing Kinyagia had provided evidence linking DCI officers to the blogger’s disappearance, including their presence at his residence in Kinoo on June 21, the day he was allegedly abducted.

“I have heard you and read the pleadings. The DCI officers visited his residence, and they are the only ones who were there when he disappeared,” said Justice Mwita. “The DCI conducted a search, and this person disappeared. We need an explanation.”

He added that it is unacceptable for any Kenyan to disappear without accountability. “There is no way a Kenyan can step out of his house and disappear from the face of the earth without a trace. It is not humanly possible,” he said.

Senior counsel Martha Karua, along with lawyers Willis Otieno and Abuner Mango, and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, told the court that DCI had not only admitted that Kinyagia was under investigation but also confirmed that officers had visited his home and taken inventory.

“The Subarus and officers in civilian clothes have not been denied. The liberty and life of Ndiang’ui are at stake,” said Otieno, adding that all indications point to the involvement of DCI personnel.

Kinyagia was reported missing shortly after sharing online content critical of the government in connection with the June 25 anti-government protests. Though the DCI maintained that he was not found during the operation at his residence, they confirmed seizing his electronic devices and travel documents.

Amid rising public concern and legal pressure, a new twist emerged Thursday morning when Kinyagia’s family lawyer, Wahome Thuku, issued a statement confirming the blogger is alive and has contacted his relatives.

In the statement, Thuku said Kinyagia reached out to a family member on Tuesday evening from an undisclosed location and assured them he was safe and in good health.

“Mr. Ndiangui indicated to the family member that he had hidden temporarily for fear of his life upon learning that DCI officers were looking for him over unknown criminal allegations,” said Thuku.

Despite the confirmation of his safety, Justice Mwita maintained that the DCI must still account for their role in the events that led to Kinyagia’s disappearance, particularly given the agency’s presence at his home on the day in question.