A Mombasa tycoon was kidnapped in broad daylight by a group of armed men, with the family accusing the police of orchestrating his disappearance.
According to the family, David Taitumu's car was found abandoned on the road at Mombasa Primary School and later towed to Central Police Station.
The 47-year-old's wife lamented that efforts to source information from the police for four weeks, over the husband's whereabouts, were futile.
On Tuesday, September 15, she appealed to the government to review CCTV footage in Mombasa to help trace her husband.
The widow added that an eye witness confessed that the victim was apprehended by armed men believed to be law enforcers after they broke his car's windowpane and bundled him into an awaiting car.
“If my husband has committed any crime, let the proper channels be followed including being taken to court for due prosecution,” she stated while addressing the media outside HAKI Africa offices.
HAKI Africa Executive Director Khalid Hussein added that the businessman had never been convicted and urged the police and other authorities to oversee his safe return.
According to the human rights activist, 19 cases of disappeared persons have been reported since the beginning of 2020.
Six victims out of the 19 have since been reunited with their families.
“We call upon the government to protect its people and incidences of police brutality should stop and those found guilty face the full force of the law for contravening human rights," Khalid rallied.
On Monday, September 14, Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti refuted claims that a special killer police squad was conducting covert operations in the country.
Appearing before a joint meeting of the Senate Committees on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights and National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations, DCI Kinoti stated that he had no knowledge of police silently tracking politicians.
