Residents and traders in Eastleigh staged protests on Thursday following the alleged abduction of a businessman, marking the fifth reported disappearance in the area within a month.
Demonstrators issued a 24-hour ultimatum to authorities, demanding the immediate release of 33-year-old Shukri Hassan and urgent action to address the rising cases.
According to family members, Hassan was allegedly abducted on the evening of March 28 in Fedha Estate, Pipeline area, by armed men in plain clothes.
The suspects reportedly handcuffed him before forcing him into a black Prado and driving away—an incident said to have been captured on CCTV.
“We do not know where he is. We are distressed looking for him. Who took the father of my children? We want justice,” a family member said.
Relatives said they have searched police stations and mortuaries across Nairobi without success, adding that the last signal from his mobile phone was traced to Runda.
Protesters insisted that due process must be followed if Hassan is suspected of any crime. “If there is a case against him, let him be taken to court to answer to the law. We just want to know where he is,” a resident said.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen confirmed that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations has formed a special team to investigate the incidents.
“DCI is carrying out robust investigations into all complaints and alleged abductions in Eastleigh,” Murkomen said.
He added that some cases involve non-Kenyan nationals. “We also have cases where complaints are related to foreigners… some are issuing complaints because we have deported them back to their countries,” he stated.
The protests highlight growing concern among residents over security in the area, with calls mounting for swift action and accountability from authorities.
