One of the four missing men from Mlolongo, Justus Mutumwa, has been found dead.
Family lawyer Dan Maanzo confirmed on Thursday, January 30, that Mutumwa’s body was discovered in Ruai, Nairobi County, and later taken to the City Mortuary, where his family positively identified it.
“We have confirmed that petitioner number one, Justus Mutumwa, has been found dead. A quick fingerprint check confirmed his identity. He was a petitioner in this case,” Maanzo stated.
The news of Mutumwa’s death emerged while court proceedings concerning the disappearance of the four men were ongoing.
Mutumwa, along with Stephen Mbisi Kavingu, Martin Zyuko Mwau, and Kalani Mwema, went missing on December 16 and 17 under unclear circumstances.
According to their families, Mutumwa, Zyuko, and Mwema were last seen by friends at a local joint on the evening of December 15, 2024, in a jovial mood. They had left their homes that morning for work and business but never returned.
Mutumwa’s death was reported just hours after Inspector General (IG) of Police Douglas Kanja and Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Director Mohammed Amin appeared in court following multiple summonses over the disappearance of the four men.
The two had previously ignored three court orders requiring them to explain the whereabouts of the missing individuals.
Earlier, Justice Chacha Mwita noted that Mutumwa, Mwau, and Muema were arrested on December 16 and 17 and had been held beyond the constitutional limit.
In his submission, DCI boss Amin confirmed that reports of their disappearance were officially recorded at Athi River and Mlolongo police stations on December 21, 25, and 26, 2024.
He stated that, upon receiving the reports, he was directed by the IG of Police to ensure a thorough investigation was conducted. However, he maintained that the missing men were not in police custody.
“I instructed my deputy director of investigations, Paul Wachira, to take over the cases and ensure they are thoroughly investigated. The findings will be forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for further action,” Amin said.
He reiterated that investigations were ongoing, adding, “The missing persons are not under the custody of the National Police Service. We have not arrested them, and they are not in our custody. We cannot produce them nor refer any charges against them at this point.”
As the search for the remaining missing men continues, pressure is mounting on authorities to provide answers and hold those responsible accountable.
