High Court Orders IG Kanja and DCI Boss Amin to Produce Missing Busia Trader
The Busia High Court has ordered Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin to produce a Busia fish trader who has been missing for more than a week after he was allegedly taken away by individuals said to be DCI officers at a police roadblock.
The court order has intensified public attention on the case, which has raised serious concerns about enforced disappearances and the conduct of security agencies in Kenya.
The missing trader, identified as 35-year-old Ibrahim Mohamed, reportedly disappeared on January 27 shortly after the bus he was travelling in was stopped at the Korinda Police Roadblock along the Busia–Nairobi highway.
According to accounts from witnesses and family members, Mohamed was instructed to step out of the bus by people who identified themselves as DCI officers. He has not been seen since that moment, and his whereabouts remain unknown.
Reports indicate that Mohamed was carrying a large amount of money at the time, believed to be U.S. dollars equivalent to about KSh17 million, allegedly linked to his fish business transactions.
His sudden disappearance, together with the missing cash, has left his family deeply distressed as they continue searching for answers.
For more than seven days, relatives say they have received no clear explanation from security agencies regarding where he is being held or what may have happened to him.
Justice W. Musyoka issued the orders on February 5, 2026, after the matter was filed in court under a certificate of urgency by Andrew Okoiti and Mohamed Garad Mohamed.
In the ruling, the court directed the Inspector General and the DCI to present Mohamed before the court, whether alive or dead, and to explain the legal basis for his arrest, detention, or continued confinement if he is indeed in custody.
The court further ruled that if the authorities fail to produce the trader, they must file sworn affidavits within 24 hours.
These affidavits must clearly explain the circumstances surrounding his arrest, identify the officers involved, outline the command structure under which they were operating, and provide details of any detention facilities or locations where he may have been held or transferred.
The court also demanded a full and honest account of Mohamed’s current condition or fate.
The case is scheduled to be mentioned again on February 9, when all parties are expected to appear before the Busia High Court to present their positions and allow the court to determine the next course of action.
Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has also spoken publicly about the matter, urging the Inspector General to ensure that any officers allegedly involved in the incident account for the trader’s disappearance.
The senator described the situation as deeply concerning, saying it reflects credible reports of an enforced disappearance and raises serious constitutional questions about the protection of citizens’ rights.
Omtatah stressed that compliance with the court order is not optional, but a constitutional duty that must be respected by all state agencies.
He warned that secret detentions undermine the rule of law and violate the Constitution, which guarantees that every citizen must remain within the protection of the law at all times.
The incident comes at a time when human rights organisations have continued to raise alarm over cases of abductions and enforced disappearances in the country.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has previously reported dozens of such cases allegedly linked to security agencies, including the National Police Service and the DCI.
According to the commission, at least 82 cases of abductions or enforced disappearances were recorded between June 2024 and December 2024, with 29 individuals still missing by the end of that period.
Civil society groups have repeatedly called for accountability and transparent investigations into these incidents, arguing that unresolved disappearances continue to erode public trust in law enforcement institutions.
Meanwhile, the family of the missing businessman continues to live in uncertainty as they wait for answers from authorities.
With no confirmed information about whether he is alive or dead, relatives say the emotional toll has been overwhelming as they hope the court process will finally reveal the truth about what happened to their loved one.
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