Havi urges focus on police reform despite Ndiang’ui controversy

Former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Nelson Havi has called on the public and justice institutions to maintain focus on police accountability efforts.

This is despite the controversy surrounding the hiding and alleged disappearance of blogger Ndiang’ui Kinyagia.

“The single incident should, however, not derail momentum for police accountability,” he said in a statement on Thursday.

Havi criticised Ndiang’ui’s conduct, saying it had “given undeserved credence to positions taken by NPS and DCI on police abductions.”

He noted that the situation had “embarrassed a well-meaning Judge” and disrupted the work of those pushing for justice and reform.

Despite the incident, Havi emphasised that the broader movement for accountability must not lose steam.

Ndiang’ui’s case initially prompted national concern, with many fearing he had been abducted, following an alleged controversial post on X, regarding the June 25, 2025, protests.

Subsequent revelations that he was in hiding have drawn sharp criticism from some, while others find relief that he is alive. 

When the case was first represented in court, High Court Judge Chacha Mwita directed the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss, Mohamed Amin, to produce the blogger before the court, whether dead or alive. 

During the proceedings on Tuesday, Mwita said it is humanly impossible for Ndiang’ui to leave his house and vanish without a trace.

"I want Ndiang’ui Kinyagia in court, whether dead or alive. I'm also speaking to these people (Kanja and Amin), there is no way a Kenyan would get out of his boat and vanish from this world without a trace; it is not humanly possible. Let's stop playing drama and stick to what our Constitution speaks to," he said.

The Judge emphasised the seriousness of the matter, said the focus should be on locating the blogger rather than indulging in theatrics.

"All we want is this Kenyan; where is he? Nothing more. We are not interested in drama or anything; we have a human being missing,” he said.

“The responsibility is now on me; they are looking to this court to get this person alive or dead.”

Ndiang’ui is said to have disappeared on June 21, 2025.