Parselelo Ole Kantai: Investigative Journalist Goes Missing

A missing person's poster of investigative journalist Parselelo Ole Kantai
A missing person's poster of investigative journalist Parselelo Ole Kantai
File

Update: The family of missing investigative journalist, Parselelo Ole Kantai on Sunday afternoon, October 9, announced that their kin has been found. 

In a statement by the kin's cousin, Wallace Kantai, Parselelo is currently in the safe hands of his family. Wallace also urged everyone to give the family some time as they try to establish how the events unfolded in the past few days. 

"Parselelo ole Kantai has been found and is in the safe hands of his family. We ask for patience as we seek to establish the full facts of these last couple of days. We thank everyone who has called, texted and otherwise helped out during a very distressing period," Wallace stated. 


When investigative journalist, Parselelo Ole Kantai went to Hurlingham, Nairobi on Tuesday, October 4, little did his family know that they would be looking for him as a missing person thereafter. 

Kantai, who makes a living by diving deep into the art of investigative journalism, is a notable figure- having rubbed shoulders with the who's who in the media industry. 

However, posters announcing that he had gone missing, circulated on social media for the better part of Saturday evening, October 8, with the family urging anyone with information to present to the police. 

A poster indicating a missing person.
A poster indicating a missing person.
Facebook

Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, a family member affirmed that they had reported the matter to the police, urging them to expedite the investigations as they were yet to receive any information. 

"We would appreciate it very much if anyone with information that would help us to get him back to please call the numbers on the poster," the source stated. 

The police will be keen on tracing Kantai's past movements as they piece the events that occurred on the day he went missing. 

According to Kantai's sister, Resson Duff, Kantai seemed calm and okay and was in the process of going to a meeting. 

"Please help me find my brother. He was fine on Tuesday. Just fine. Going to a meeting. And then nothing. Total silence. He is an investigative journalist. Please help," Duff stated. 

"My cousin and brother Parselelo has been offline. Do let us know if you are able to help trace him," Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) Communications Director, Wallace Kantai also shared the poster. 

Outspoken lawyer, Miguna Miguna called upon the police to put an end to the mysterious disappearances linked to various people. He also hailed Kantai as a fearless journalist in his line of work. 

"My friend, Parselelo is a fearless journalist! I hope he is alive!" Miguna stated. Other tweets were shared by Citizen TV's Editorial Director Linus Kaikai, investigative journalist, John Allan Namu, and media personality Terryanne Chebet among others. 

During a past citation at the University of Wollongong Australia titled Writing history’s silences: Interview with Parselelo Kantai, he spoke fondly of his vision where writers would overcome the fear of telling their own stories. 

"I’m hoping that as writers, one of the humps that we will move over is the difficulty of telling our own truths. We talk a lot about telling our own stories — this has become something of the African writers’ refrain — that this is the time to tell our own stories."

"But we also need to recognise that behind the stories are truths that we need to confront which may become

very uncomfortable — family truths, national truths, personal truths," he previously stated. 

Journalists docked at a media center while covering an event.
Journalists docked at a media centre while covering an event.
Photo
MCK