Vocal Africa seeks court intervention over the disappearance of Tanzanian activist Twaha Mwaipaya.
The rights organisation seeks urgent court orders requiring security agencies to account for the Tanzanian activist following his alleged abduction in Kamulu.
Vocal Africa has asked the High Court to compel security agencies to produce Tanzanian opposition activist Twaha Mwaipaya. The rights organisation says his whereabouts remain unknown following an alleged abduction in Kamulu, Nairobi, on October 25.
Through a habeas corpus application, the organisation seeks his production in court within 24 hours. It also wants authorities to present any warrant or order authorising his detention.
An affidavit by human rights advocate Hussein Khalid supports the application. He says a friend accompanying Mwaipaya escaped and witnessed the incident.
Orders sought over Twaha Mwaipaya disappearance
Court documents allege that armed men seized the activist at Kanisani stage in Kamulu at around 1pm. They reportedly travelled in a black double-cabin pickup and wore balaclavas or ski masks and dark glasses.
Vocal Africa says a missing person report was filed at Ruai Police Station under OB number 47/25/10/2026. However, his family and lawyers still have no information about his location or condition.
The organisation also says they do not know the reasons for his alleged arrest or which agency holds him.
The applicants want Police Inspector General Douglas Kanja Kirocho and National Intelligence Service Director General Noordin Mohamed Haji summoned. They seek explanations from both officials about Mwaipaya’s whereabouts and disappearance.
In addition, the application seeks orders preventing his arrest or detention without court permission while the case proceeds. Vocal Africa also wants his unconditional release once authorities produce him, pending the institution of criminal charges.
Records sought to trace alleged abduction
To establish what happened, the organisation wants authorities to preserve and produce CCTV footage and automatic number plate recognition records. Its request also covers toll records, mobile network data, border records and vehicle-tracking information.
The requested records concern the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway around Kamulu from October 25. The applicants say these could help reconstruct events and identify those responsible.
They further seek prompt, independent investigations, with comprehensive reports submitted to the court within 14 days.
Concerns over possible transfer to Tanzania
Vocal Africa describes Mwaipaya as a Tanzanian government critic with a significant social media following. It fears a forced transfer to Tanzania could expose him to torture, incommunicado detention or other rights violations.
To support those concerns, the applicants cite the 2024 abduction of Ugandan opposition figure Dr Kizza Besigye. They also allege similarities with the reported disappearances of Macmillan Kiarie, Evans Otieno, Michael Oloo and Abdulaziz Duba.
The organisation argues that urgent intervention would protect Mwaipaya’s liberty and freedom from torture. It wants the court to certify the application as urgent and initially hear it without the respondents present.
