Kasarani family in agony over kin who disappeared during protests 60 days ago

A family in Suntons, Kasarani area of Nairobi, has been in distress for 60 days, desperately searching for their kin who went missing during the anti-government protests on June 25, 2024

Emmanuel Mukuria Kamau, a 24-year-old, was reportedly arrested in Nairobi's Central Business District along with a group of protesters.

Despite the arrest, he was never presented in court, and the family was only informed that he was being detained at Industrial Area Prison.

Their attempts to locate him through hospitals, police stations, and prisons have been in vain.

“The last person who saw him was at Imenti Stage in Nairobi. Teargas was thrown, and since that day, I have not seen my son,” his mother Susan Wangari said.

Emmanuel was reportedly arrested by police officers along Tom Mboya Road outside Imenti House, but his subsequent whereabouts remain unclear. He was never formally charged or taken to court.

“His friends were looking for him on Wednesday but could not find him. They called me to say they couldn’t find him. We have gone to Central, Pangani, and Kamukunji police stations but have not found him,” Wangari added.

Emmanuel’s mother received information from a released protester that Emmanuel was detained at Industrial Area Prison.

“On July 22, a young man who was brought by Emmanuel’s friends told me that my son was at Industrial Area,” she stated.

For two months, she has been making daily trips to the prison in search of her son. Today was just one of many such visits, and once again, her efforts proved fruitless.

“I was told to come back tomorrow. I have left my son’s identification card with them,” she noted.

Accompanying her, Citizen TV requested the records for June and July of detainees brought to the prison, but Emmanuel’s name was conspicuously missing.