Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has denied claims that police officers abducted Tanzanian activist Twaha Mwaipaya, telling the High Court that the missing activist has never been in police custody.

Appearing before Justice Alexander Muteti on Tuesday, November 3,Kanja said he was aware of the case but maintained that the police service had neither arrested nor detained Mwaipaya at any point.

“My Lord, I wish to inform this court that we don’t have the subject in our custody throughout the Republic of Kenya,” Kanja told the court.

The police chief further told the court that he was not aware of any arrest of Mwaipaya by police officers but confirmed that a report concerning his disappearance had been made at Ruai Police Station.

Kanja said investigations into the matter were ongoing and informed the court that the investigating officer handling the case was present during the proceedings.

He dismissed allegations that police officers were responsible for the activist’s disappearance, insisting that the service investigates every report lodged at any police station.

“The subject was at no time arrested by my officers. Since he has never been in our custody, he can’t have been removed by the same,” he submitted.

Pressed on allegations of enforced disappearances, Kanja rejected claims that police abduct individuals and make them disappear.

“Not at all, we don’t abduct and make people disappear,” he said, adding that any abduction should be treated as a criminal act.

The Inspector General’s appearance followed orders issued by Justice Muteti on October 30, 2026, directing police to produce Mwaipaya before the court, dead or alive, on November 3

The court had also directed the police to present the original detention warrant, if any, and explain why the missing activist should not be immediately released.

Kanja’s appearance was part of compliance with the habeas corpus proceedings seeking to establish Mwaipaya’s whereabouts and determine whether he was being unlawfully detained.