New Delhi: India on Monday, October 24, described as “very disturbing” the circumstances surrounding the abduction of two Indians in Kenya and subsequent lack of information in the case.
Mohammad Zaid Sami Kidwai and Zulfiqar Ahmed Khan, who were part of Kenya Kwanza digital campaign team, went missing alongside taxi driver Nicodemus Mwania from Mombasa Road in July.
A close aide of the Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto had last week claimed that Kidwai and Khan had been killed by the disbanded Directorate of Criminal Investigations unit, according to Kenyan paper The Nation.
The outlet had reported that in his Facebook post carrying the claim, Dennis Itumbi had also noted that the two had been taken out of their vehicle, along with its Kenyan driver, killed in another vehicle and then put into yet another vehicle which was sent to Aberdares, 150km from the capital Nairobi.
In a new article filed today, The Nation has reported on a “damning” affidavit filed by investigating officer Michael Kirui at the Kahawa Law Court in which it was held that the two Indians and their driver “were trailed, abducted and killed inside Aberdare Forest by a four-man squad of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.”
India has, notably, not acknowledged the claims in the reports on the fact that the two are no longer alive.
Responding to reporters’ questions on the matter, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Monday night that the Indian High Commissioner to Kenya, Namgya Khampa, has met President Ruto, to “convey our deep concern” and requesting him to expedite the investigation into the matter.
It is learnt that the Kenyan government has not said anything officially on the report.
“We have been in regular touch with the Kenyan government to locate the whereabouts of the two missing Indian nationals, Mohammad Zaid Sami Kidwai and Zulfiqar Ahmed Khan,”
Bagchi said the High Commissioner of Kenya in New Delhi was also called into the ministry on Sunday to convey India’s concerns in the matter.
“The specific circumstances surrounding the abduction and subsequent lack of information is very disturbing. We expect that the case will be investigated thoroughly,” Bagchi said.
He said the Indian High Commission in Kenya is in touch with the family members of the two Indians and assisting them.
“The case is under active investigation by the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) of Kenyan Police. We have noted that several people have been taken into custody in this connection, including officials of the recently abolished Special Service Unit of the Kenyan Police,” Bagchi added.
He said the MEA continues to monitor all developments related to this case.
On Sunday, October 24, well-known Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif was shot dead in Nairobi when police hunting car thieves opened fire on the vehicle he was travelling in as it drove through their roadblock without stopping, according to a Kenyan police report on Monday.