Concern has grown over the reported disappearance of Nairobi politician Joel Kariuki Mwai after unidentified men allegedly posing as police officers seized him in the Mathare area.
According to human rights organisation VOCAL Africa, the 45-year-old politician was reportedly taken on the afternoon of June 18 while walking home from his business premises in Mathare Number 10.
Witnesses claimed that several men dressed in civilian clothes approached Mwai at about 1:30 p.m. and identified themselves as police officers. They allegedly forced him into a double-cab pickup and drove away.
Residents who attempted to intervene were reportedly threatened after the men allegedly displayed firearms.
Mwai’s whereabouts remained unknown the following afternoon, prompting concern among his family, political associates and human rights activists.
The politician is known to have participated in the 2022 General Election, when he contested the Mabatini Ward MCA seat on a Jubilee Party ticket.
VOCAL Africa CEO Hussein Khalid expressed concern over the reported incident and called for urgent efforts to establish Mwai’s whereabouts. The matter also attracted attention from other prominent figures, including a former chief justice.
Human rights organisations have called on security agencies to clarify whether Mwai was arrested by legitimate officers and, if so, to disclose where he was being held.
At the time of the report, authorities had not publicly confirmed the alleged abduction or provided information about Mwai’s location.
The case has renewed concerns over reported disappearances in Kenya and prompted fresh calls for transparency, accountability and thorough investigations into allegations involving security personnel.