Two Abducted Brothers Found in Gachie, Police Still Silent on Missing Activist

In a dramatic turn of events, two brothers who were abducted in Kitengela a month ago have been found alive, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo confirmed. The brothers, Jamil Longton (42) and Aslam Longton (36), were discovered at Gachie, on the border of Kiambu and Nairobi, on Thursday night. However, the whereabouts of their fellow abductee, Free Kenya Movement coordinator Bob Njagi, remain unknown.

Odhiambo, in a statement on X (formerly Twitter), expressed relief at the brothers' safe return. "I am informed that Jamil Longton and his brother Aslam were dumped at the Gachie border by their captors. Every prayer and intervention made a difference. We thank God that they are safe!" she stated.

The brothers had been forcefully taken alongside Njagi on Monday, August 19, 2024, in what has been widely believed to be an abduction by security officers. Witnesses in Kitengela reported seeing a white Subaru being used in the kidnapping of the brothers, while Njagi was allegedly snatched from a bus in Mlolongo by unidentified individuals in a similar vehicle.

Despite these accounts, authorities remain tight-lipped. On Thursday, the recently appointed National Police Service Director General, Kanja, confirmed that an investigation is underway but did not provide further details. "You are aware I have just taken over the office, but from what I have gathered, we do not have the Kitengela three with us. However, a report was made, and we have an active investigation," Kanja said during a press briefing at Jogoo House in Nairobi.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) head, Amin, also denied having the men in custody. "We don’t support any form of abduction, and for now, we don’t have the three," he said.

The trio’s disappearance has placed significant pressure on the police force, leading to a court case where the LSK demanded the police produce the missing men. This culminated in former acting Inspector General of Police, Gilbert Masengeli, receiving a six-month jail sentence for contempt of court after repeatedly failing to explain their whereabouts.

Masengeli has been fighting the sentence, attempting to appear before Justice Lawrence Mugambi on Thursday to apologize. However, his plea to have the matter heard was postponed, with Justice Chacha Mwita noting that Mugambi's diary was fully booked. The case is expected to proceed today, Friday, September 20, 2024, when Masengeli is due to begin serving his jail term unless an intervention is made.

LSK lawyer Nelson Havi, along with other petitioners, requested the matter be mentioned next week, further complicating the legal quagmire surrounding the case.

The revelation that two of the abducted men have been found alive brings some relief to their families and supporters. However, the fate of Njagi remains a source of concern, and the circumstances surrounding the abduction continue to raise questions about police involvement and accountability.