An emotional scene unfolded at the High Court on Tuesday as the mother of missing security analyst Mwenda Mbijiwe broke down in tears and knelt in prayer moments before the hearing of her son’s case.
Jane Gatwiri, who has spent four years seeking answers over her son’s disappearance, appeared visibly distraught as she rose from her seat shortly before proceedings began.
Accompanied by a close family member, Gatwiri walked into the aisle between the courtroom benches, knelt, and bowed her head in prayer.
With her hands clasped and her voice barely audible, she uttered a short prayer as other court users looked on silently.
The moment lasted briefly before she returned to her seat.
Even as the session commenced, Gatwiri continued to show signs of grief, wiping tears from her face throughout the hearing.
The somber scene set the tone for proceedings before High Court Judge Martin Muya, who is presiding over the long-running case concerning Mbijiwe’s disappearance.
Mbijiwe, a security analyst and former military officer, went missing in June 2021.
His whereabouts remain unknown.
During the hearing, the court addressed the absence of Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin, who had previously been summoned to appear in court.
Orders had been issued for Mbijiwe to be produced in court, "dead or alive."
The two senior officers were represented in court by their lawyer, Paul Nyamodi, and an investigating officer — an arrangement the court criticised for contributing to delays in the case.
Gatwiri, the applicant, requested that the court consider issuing warrants of arrest against the officers for allegedly failing to comply with court orders.
Her lawyers argued that the case had dragged on for years without meaningful progress, prolonging the family’s distress.
Nyamodi opposed the application, stating that his clients had not been served with the summons.
He asked the judge to allow the investigating officer present to brief the court on the status of investigations, asserting that the officer was best placed to respond to the issues raised.
“I took time at the beginning to explain that the investigating officer is present and that the court made directions for the two senior officers without having had an opportunity to hear the status of the investigations,” Nyamodi said.
The investigating officer reported that two missing persons reports had been filed. Lawyers representing Mbijiwe’s family emphasised that the focus should be on the fact that a report had been lodged and that investigations ought to have progressed.
Justice Muya, visibly dissatisfied with procedural arguments, cautioned parties against manoeuvres that could delay the case.
“Let’s all endeavour kindly to resolve this issue. I won’t call it murder… disappearance of one of us. Let’s not play games, kindly,” the judge warned.
The court directed all parties to file and serve the relevant documents and ordered them to appear again on January 23, 2026, as the case continues to seek answers regarding Mbijiwe’s disappearance.
