MPs to present censure motion against Matiang’i, Mutyambai, Kinoti over forced disappearances

Two Mombasa legislators have vowed to present a joint Censure Motion in parliament against interior cabinet secretary Fred Matiangi, inspector general of police Hilary Mutayambai and directorate of criminal investigations DCI George Kinoti over forced disappearance of persons in the country.

Mvita Member of parliament Abdulswamad Nassir and Mombasa senator Mohamed Faki want the trio summoned in a joint senate and the national assembly committee to shed more light on the disappearance of Somali businessmen Abdiwahab Sheikh Abdusamad and subsequent discovery of mutilated bodies of persons in Tan River.

Abdiwahab Sheikh Abdusamad a horn of Africa analyst is reported to have been accosted by unknown people along Tubman road next to City Market and bundled into a stand by vehicle before it sped off and efforts by his family to search in police stations have so far borne no fruits.

The two legislators have also vowed to mobilize other like-minded members of parliament and senators to do it within constitutional procedures.

“We are saddened by these actions, we will work this jointly because someone must be accountable for all these actions, we are presenting a joint motion this week, to summon the interior cabinet secretary Fred Matiang’i, the DCI boss George Kinoti and inspector general of police Hilary Mutyambai, to give answers to why these ills are happening to Kenyans,” said Nassir.

The legislators spoke in Mombasa on Sunday during a joint press briefing convened by the Mombasa Somali community, where they aired their disappointment over increased cases of disappearance of persons without a trace.

“If this kind of abductions continues and nobody explains why they are happening, then as leaders we feel something is not right, this country is governed by laws, and someone must be accountable for their actions, they must come before the house and explain to us,” said Mohamed Faki.

The family of a Horn of Africa Analyst who went missing Wednesday last week is seeking answers on his whereabouts after he was abducted in Nairobi Central Business District CBD.

Mohamed Huri Ibrahim, Mombasa County Somali community Chairman said the manner of disappearance is evoking the emotions of many Kenyans and should not be encouraged.

He wants President Uhuru Kenyatta to come to the aid of families who have lost their kin in unclear circumstances.

“We are appealing to our president to hear our cry, if there is anything wrong Abdusamad had done, let him be presented to the court. We are asking the head of state to help the families get their loved ones,” Ibrahim said.

The 55-year-old analyst is reported to have been abducted along Tubman road next to City Market as he went about his business when four men disembarked a double cabin pick up, handcuffed him and forced him into the vehicle before driving off.

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Human Rights organization Haki Africa now says it will file an application in court seeking to compel authorities to produce Abdiwahab dead or alive. Also agitated is the family of Abdulhakim Sagar who was abducted by unknown people in Oldtown on August 18 and has not been traced to date.

“We are bitter as a family, why can’t they produce him in court, we are kept in the dark and it’s so painful, we suspect the people who abducted him are police officers,” said Fari Sagar, brother to the abducted man.

According to the legislators, the authorities will also be required to explain about some 11 bodies of unidentified persons lying at the Garissa Referral Hospital Mortuary after Haki Africa reported some decomposed bodies were recovered in Tana River County.

At least 11 unidentified and unclaimed bodies are currently lying at the Garissa Referral Hospital mortuary, HAKI Africa, a Mombasa-based human rights organization has said.

HAKI Africa released a statement following a visit to Garissa County saying the bodies were recovered from River Tana on diverse dates over three months.

The human rights organization said the examination of the bodies indicated that the victims had been tortured before being killed.

“HAKI Africa is currently in Garissa Referral Hospital following up on 11uknown bodies, some of them mutilated, recovered and dumped in River Tana. It is alleged that the 11 bodies were brought in over the last three months on different dates. From our findings, the bodies were not found in one incident,” said Haki Africa executive director.

Police in the two counties of Garissa and Tana River say it has been difficult to begin investigations into the identities of the 11 because no one has come out to record statements on missing persons.

According to Dr. Ambrose Misori, the Medical Superintendent, 11 bodies that have yet to be identified were brought in three months ago.

According to the hospital, almost all of the bodies showed signs of torture, with the majority of them having their feet and hands tied. According to Ali Ndiema, Sub County Police Commander Tana North, police were unable to extract fingerprints from the bodies because they were badly decomposed