Family Seeks Answers After Activist Mulinge Muteti Disappears in Nairobi

The family of activist Mulinge Muteti is seeking answers after he went missing during demonstrations in Nairobi calling for the release of Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye.

Muteti disappeared on Monday, September 21, 2026, after leaving fellow activists in Nairobi’s Central Business District to print a petition and statement they planned to present to authorities.

For more than 48 hours, family members and human rights defenders had searched several police stations and other locations but failed to establish his whereabouts.

They reported his disappearance at Central Police Station and asked officers to help trace him.

Carrying posters bearing Muteti’s photograph and details of his alleged abduction, relatives and human rights defenders emerged from Central Police Station after seeking police assistance.

According to the family and activists, people believed to be security officials allegedly abducted Muteti after he left the group to visit a cyber cafe and print the petition.

Family Searches Police Stations for Muteti

Alex Ndambuki, Muteti’s brother, said relatives had visited several police stations and other locations while searching for the missing activist.

“We have searched police stations, we’ve been through Pangani police station, we’ve gone to Kamukunji police station and right now we’ve arrived here at Central. Moreover, we have also been to KICC and he cannot be found anywhere right now,” he said.

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Before he disappeared, Muteti, a member of the Paza Sauti Movement, joined other activists in Nairobi’s Central Business District as they planned protests demanding Besigye’s release.

After excusing himself to print their petition and statement, the activist never returned to the group.

Sayialel Mankuyio, an activist who had been in contact with Muteti, said the group tried calling him after their last communication.

“We tried calling Mulinge to pick up his phone. The last minute talking to Mulinge was at 10:43. At exactly 11:57, Mulinge told me that he had been arrested. I’ve been caught. Trying to call him from that time, the phone is switched off,” he said.

Human Rights Defenders Accuse Kenyan Police for Abduction

Meanwhile, Fredrick Ojiro, a Rapid Response Officer at the Kenya Human Rights Commission, alleged that police could have information about Muteti’s whereabouts.

“We strongly believe that Mulinge Muteti was abducted by the Kenyan police. We’ve spoken to one of the police inside, he has told us that they know something about Mulinge,” Ojiro said.

Activists have described the alleged abduction as another case of enforced disappearance in the country and vowed to take to the streets to demand Muteti’s release.

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They also said they would seek legal intervention over his whereabouts.

Ojiro said human rights defenders had raised concerns over what activists described as a pattern involving abduction, illegal detention and enforced disappearance.

“We are seeing a trend where vocal human rights defenders are being silenced through abduction, illegal detention and enforced disappearance. We are urging the government of the day to protect the rights of human rights defenders. And on that note, we are going to make an application for habeas corpus tomorrow,” he added.

Police have been asked by the family to review CCTV footage from across Nairobi’s Central Business District and track Muteti’s phone to establish his whereabouts.

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A photo of Dr. Kizza Besigye in court. PHOTO/NGM