Kenyan court summons police chief over Mwaipaya
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Kenyans.co.ke
Kenya’s High Court summoned national police chief Douglas Kanja to explain the disappearance of Tanzanian opposition figure Twaha Mwaipaya. Judge Alexander Muteti wants to know in particular whether state agents abducted him and sent him back to Tanzania without legal proceedings, according to Monday’s ruling.
Kenya’s High Court summoned police inspector general Douglas Kanja on Monday 2 November to explain the whereabouts of Tanzanian activist Twaha Mwaipaya, who has been missing for more than a week. Judge Alexander Muteti said the police chief was best placed to establish whether state agents had been involved in his disappearance or return to Tanzania, according to Kenyans.co.ke.
The government had said that Mwaipaya was neither in the custody of the inspector general nor that of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations. The judge refused to summon the director of the agency, Mohamed Amin, separately, saying that Douglas Kanja had authority over all police services. The proceedings follow a request by lawyer Martha Karua, who represents the organisation Vocal Africa.
Mwaipaya was reported missing on 25 October after, according to allegations presented to the court, he was forcibly taken away by unidentified people. Douglas Kanja’s summons comes after Kenya’s courts ordered Twaha Mwaipaya to be brought before the court on 30 October.
