Africa-Press – Kenya. Former Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officer Mwenda Mbijiwe’s mother has broken her silence for the first time since his disappearance on June 12, 2021.
Speaking to her family members and the press on Saturday, June 3, the mother, Jane Gatwiri, disclosed that she has reason to believe that her son is still alive.
She further noted that her son’s freedom was under the control of unknown parties blaming the police for carrying out sub-par investigations.
“The reports we are receiving from other sources, our son Mwenda Mbijiwe is very much alive. Therefore, the family is requesting the government to speed up that investigation and let us know the whereabouts of our son and see him released,” she stated during the gathering.
It was revealed that Mwenda disappeared en route to check on his mother at Kimbo Village in Meru County before the car was later recovered at Kamiti corner.
She noted that the car should have provided crucial leads in the case and help identify the unknown faces behind her son’s disappearance.
“We are disturbed since the same people carrying out the investigations are the same people who recovered the vehicle.
“As a family, we need to know why the said vehicle of a CID officer attached at Pangani Police Station was released without recording any statement and without Mwenda Mbijiwe,” she added.
An initial GPRS tracking showed that the vehicle was at Kasarani Estate before being spotted at Kahawa Estate from where it was transferred to Kamiti Corner where it was eventually found.
During the press conference, Gatwiri also invited security officials from USA, Israel and South Africa to enjoin the case and help unravel her son’s whereabouts.
Other family members who attended the press briefing feared that their kin might be held captive by government agencies.
“I have worked with him on security and counter-terrorism issues. He is always very alert, meaning the people with him must be better trained than he is. The issue of the hired vehicle is another puzzle,” stated Nicholas Bundi who was backed by Stephen Nkonge, Mbijiwe’s step-father.
Towards the end of June, Gatwiri met with Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) George Kinoti for six hours to discuss the disappearance of her son.
She was convinced that foul play was involved in the disappearance of Mwenda, a security expert, and hoped that Kinoti would brief her on the developments of the case.
Her family members had lamented that they were kept in the dark since police took over the case.
