An emotional scene unfolded at the Milimani Law Courts Wednesday as the family of missing security analyst Mwenda Mbijiwe marked four agonizing years without answers, culminating in a High Court judge summoning top police chiefs to explain his whereabouts. The family's lawyer, Evans Ondieki, broke down in tears, condemning what he termed state impunity and greed in a case that has gripped the nation.

The core of this protracted legal battle is simple: a family's desperate need to know if their son is dead or alive. Mbijiwe, a well-known former Kenya Air Force officer and frequent media commentator on security matters, disappeared on June 12, 2021, while reportedly travelling from Nairobi to his rural home in Meru. His hired vehicle was later found abandoned.

A Mother's Anguish, A Lawyer's Fury

"Every life counts. I want this mother to get her justice," Ondieki stated, overcome with emotion before weeping openly outside the courthouse. He fiercely questioned a proposal from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to open an inquest into the disappearance, arguing it was a tacit admission that the state believes Mbijiwe is dead. "They cannot start an inquest unless they are aware he is not alive," Ondieki warned. "We want them to bring that police file and tell us... why it has taken them four years to come up with this theory that he is missing."

Mbijiwe's mother, Jane Gatwiri, who has relentlessly pursued justice for her son, voiced her suspicions directly. She accused prominent political figures of fabricating allegations against her son before he vanished. Despite the years of silence, she holds onto hope. "I stand that he is very much alive... and within this Nairobi," she declared, adding a chilling warning: "If at all they killed my son, God in heaven is watching them. They are going to pay very soon."

Top Police Brass Summoned

Responding to the family's urgent application, High Court Justice Martin Muya has taken a firm stance. He has ordered Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and the Director of Criminal Investigations, Mohamed Amin, to appear in person on December 16, 2025. They are to provide a definitive explanation for Mbijiwe's whereabouts and the status of the investigation, which the family's lawyer claims has yielded no meaningful updates.

The family's court application argues that Mbijiwe's continued disappearance amounts to an illegal and unconstitutional detention by the state. Key details surrounding the case remain murky:

• Date of Disappearance: June 12, 2021.
• Last Known Journey: Travelling from Roysambu, Nairobi, towards Meru County.
• Allegations: The family claims he was abducted by men believed to be security officers in an unmarked vehicle.
• Official Response: An investigation report previously sent to the DPP failed to identify any suspects or the circumstances of his disappearance.

The court has been told that powerful leaders are suspected of being involved in his disappearance, which occurred after Mbijiwe had declared his interest in vying for the Meru gubernatorial seat. As the nation watches, the appearance of the country's top detectives in court may finally provide the first real chance for a breakthrough, or confirm a family's worst fears.