The National Police Service (NPS) has responded after CCTV footage captured alleged plainclothed police officers storming into lawyer Hassan Nandwa's house before he was reported missing.
In a statement to the press, Police Spokesman Bruno Shioso denied that officers were involved in the disappearance of the lawyer who represented ex-convict Elgiva Bwire, an alleged Al Shaabab militant who had just been released from prison.
He further noted that police were doing all they could to find him alive and asked Kenyans with information over the disappearance to come forward and share any details that may lead to finding him.
"It is unfortunate that Prof Hassan Nandwa is a victim of crime. Police are doing all they can to trace him and reunite him with his family without harm.
"The National Police Service will be interested in factual accusations if at all police are involved, we urge members of the public with information to file a formal complaint with the Internal Affairs Unit and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) for action," he told Citizen TV.
In the CCTV footage, the men, believed to be police officers are seen raiding Nandwa's home before allegedly ransacking it.
The lawyer's son, Elmiqdad Hassan, disclosed that he heard a knock on the door and went to check who was at the entrance.
"Upon checking, I found that there were plain-clothes officers who were armed to the teeth. Their look was very fierce and I was frightened," Hassan stated.
"They told me that they wanted to do a search but they did not have a search warrant," he recounted.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has also joined in calls for Nandwa's justice and issued a 24-hour ultimatum to Inspector General of Police, Hilary Mutyambai, to reveal the lawyer's whereabouts.
"We wish to remind the law enforcement agencies that human life is sacrosanct, advocates have a duty to take up all forms of cases without discrimination and represent their clients without any fear or intimidation," read a statement by LSK CEO, Mercy Wambua.
Nandwa's abduction took place at the same time as when the abduction of his client's mother, Jecinta Bwire, and his driver occurred in Muthaiga.
All but Nandwa have since been released.
Nandwa represented Bwire in his appeal that reduced his sentence to 10 years. The reason for Bwire's abduction remains unknown.
