Police to Probe Enforced Disappearance Claims, Confirm Davis Lichuma Missing Report

The National Police Service (NPS) has confirmed that a missing person report has been formally lodged for Davis Lichuma, a social justice activist who vanished in the aftermath of the June 25 protests in Nairobi. According to the NPS, the report was filed at Central Police Station, marking an official step toward accounting for Lichuma's whereabouts after days of growing concern from activists and human rights defenders across the country.

Lichuma's disappearance is among a number of cases that have raised alarm since the anti-government protests swept through Nairobi and other Kenyan towns last week. Civil society groups and family members of the missing have pointed to a pattern they describe as enforced disappearances — a term referring to situations where individuals are detained or abducted, often by state agents, without acknowledgment or due process. The claims have added a grave dimension to an already tense post-protest environment.

In a statement, the NPS said it is actively investigating the allegations of enforced disappearances and torture that have emerged in connection with the protests. The service gave a firm undertaking that each and every report brought to its attention would be handled "thoroughly, professionally, impartially, and expeditiously, in accordance with the law." The language signals an awareness at the top of the police hierarchy that the credibility of the institution is on the line as scrutiny from the public and rights bodies intensifies.

The NPS also called on Kenyans with specific information about cases of enforced disappearance, torture, or any other human rights violation to report directly to their nearest police station. The appeal is aimed at drawing out accounts that may not yet have been formally documented, as advocates warn that numerous families are reluctant to approach the police out of fear or distrust. Rights organisations have urged the NPS to establish a dedicated, independent channel to receive such reports without risk of reprisal to those coming forward.

Beyond the Lichuma case, the police service used the statement to reaffirm its broader obligations under Kenya's Constitution, pledging to uphold human rights and maintain professional standards in all its operations. The NPS said its commitment extends equally to all residents and visitors in the country, regardless of their political affiliations or involvement in the protests. Whether those words translate into concrete accountability — including the safe return of Lichuma and others reported missing — will be closely watched by Kenyans in the days ahead.