Five days after businessman Jimmy Mwanzia Mutava disappeared, his family says they are still in the dark over his whereabouts as fresh CCTV footage raises new questions about the events leading to his alleged abduction.
The footage captures Mutava’s movements before, during and after the incident, including his meeting with a senior police officer attached to Mlolongo Police Station, who has now emerged as a person of interest in the family’s quest for answers.
At 6:30 p.m., CCTV footage shows Mutava arriving at an entertainment joint in Mlolongo after being dropped off by a white vehicle. Moments later, a senior police officer from Mlolongo Police Station is seen walking into the premises, followed shortly by Mutava.
By 7:04 p.m., another man joins the two as they continue their meeting.
“Watu walioshika walikuwa wamevaa mask na bunduki wamejifunika,” said Mutava’s wife, Margaret Mutuku.
At around 8:15 p.m., Mutava is seen seated while using two mobile phones. Across the entertainment joint, another man wearing a hood remains standing throughout, talking on his phone as he closely watches the scene.
Five minutes later, at 8:20 p.m., Mutava is captured walking outside the gate while still speaking on the phone. CCTV footage shows the senior police officer remaining seated inside the premises, talking on his phone alongside a woman.
According to witnesses, it was at this point that Mutava was allegedly abducted.
The footage appears to contradict an account reportedly given by the officer to the family that he had stepped away to use the washroom when Mutava disappeared.
“Nilipata OCS na msichana mwingine kwa meza kulikuwa na chupa tatu na niliuliza OCS hii chupa ilikuwa na nani akaniambia ilikuwa ya Jimmy. Nikamuuliza Jimmy ameenda wapi, akaniambia Jimmy amechukuliwa. Nikamuuliza kiaje, akaniambia nilienda kwa choo kurudi nikapata hayuko,” said Mutava’s friend, Paul Ngunda.
The CCTV footage further shows the officer remaining at the table after the alleged abduction, continuing with his drink as several men approach and briefly speak to him before leaving.
At about 9:23 p.m., nearly an hour after Mutava was allegedly forced into a vehicle, the officer is seen leaving the entertainment joint accompanied by the woman.
The family says the footage, coupled with phone records and the sequence of events, raises serious questions about who orchestrated Mutava’s disappearance and why those present did not intervene.
“Kama familia tunauliza niaje mtu aite mtu kwake halafu aende apotelee kwa mikono yake na ni yeye alimuita na yeye ndio amemtoa kwa nyumba na tulikuwa tumekaa na yeye hapa kwa nyumba na watoto? Mpaka watoto sahi wanauliza baba yao ako wapi. Nikitoka wananiuliza mom unaenda wapi, nawaambia naenda kuleta daddy. Kufika wanaskia gate inafunguliwa wanashangilia daddy amefika, wanapata nakuja peke yangu,” said Mutava’s wife Margaret Mutuku.
Five days after the disappearance, the family says no information has been provided on Mutava’s whereabouts. They maintain that his last known mobile phone signal was traced along Kamiti Road.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the National Police Service are yet to issue statements on the latest developments surrounding Mutava’s disappearance.
