Garissa family demands justice for kin missing for over a year

Family members of Abdinasir Khalif demonstrating in Garissa town.He has been missing since June last year.

Yussuf Khalif - Brother to Abdinassir speaking to the press.

LAmina Khalif - Sister to Abdinassir speaking to the press

A family in Garissa is pleading for justice and answers over the disappearance of their relative, Abdinasir Khalif, who has been missing since June 30, 2023.

According to the family, Abdinasir was allegedly abducted by suspected National Police Reservists in Hagadera, Fafi Sub County.

More than a year later, they say their search for him has been met with silence and frustration from security agencies.

On Friday, relatives led by Abdinasir’s sister, Amina Khalif, staged a peaceful demonstration in Garissa town to demand his release and accountability from authorities.

Amina recalled that her brother vanished after attending a wedding ceremony in Hagadera, where he had been in the company of two friends.

“Immediately after we received news of his disappearance, we rushed to Welmerer Police Station. But officers there denied ever holding him in their cells,” she said.

“As a family, we are deeply concerned about his continued disappearance. What worries us most is the silence from the very institutions mandated to protect citizens.”

Her brother, Yussuf Khalif, echoed the frustration, saying repeated attempts to get answers from the police and other agencies have led nowhere.

“Our pleas have remained unanswered, leaving the family in anguish and uncertainty. No citizen should disappear without trace, and no family should suffer this prolonged silence,” Yussuf said.

The family further questioned why Abdinasir’s vehicle is allegedly being used by security officers in Hagadera while his phone remains switched off to date.

They called on oversight bodies, including the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), to urgently investigate the case.

ODM nominated MP Umulkheir Harun also weighed in, condemning enforced disappearances and urging the government to act decisively.

“We continue to call for an end to the practice of enforced disappearances. Every Kenyan has the right to due process, dignity, and protection from arbitrary detention. Such actions erode public trust in institutions meant to safeguard our communities,” she said.

Efforts to get a response from Garissa County Police Commander Amos Ambassa were unsuccessful, as he declined to comment on the matter.